‘Love for mitumba killing TAIFA laptop’- JKUAT Deputy Vice Chancelor

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) recently came under fire after making it compulsory for new students to purchase the locally assembled TAIFA A3 laptop, payable in two instalments of Sh 20,950 and Sh 20,000.

Reaction from students and parents has harsh. A section of parents confronted Professor Romanus Odhiambo, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics Affairs to protest what they feel is an unnecessary imposition.

“We have been accused of trying to steal from parents, that the university is forcing these laptops on students, but this is not true,” he said.

“The problem with us is that we are a mitumba consuming country. Most students prefer to go for the cheaper laptops in the market. The problem is that these students do not purchase licensed products like the operating system and software like Microsoft Office. They end up pirating software, which is illegal,” added the professor.