Students’ activism is dead and buried

Concerned Kenyans will decry the decline in varsity students’ activism in matters of national interest.

Gone are the days when student leaders were fiery, vibrant and outspoken critics who caused Government officials headaches and sleepless nights.

The large number of heads which rolled during those ‘hey’ days is still something to reckon with. In those golden days, students won unwavering support from the public.

Today’s student leaders, however, are a pale shadow of their former selves. As corruption scandals rock the Government, they have remained quiet.

It seems they have taken a cue from the political bigwigs tearing the country apart. After all, the only news from their ranks is about leadership wrangles, betrayal and monetary scandals.

Most varsity administrators have mastered the art of neutralising the dynamism of students after they assume leadership roles and turning them into puppets.

In some cases, leaders betray their ‘comrades’ if they refuse to subscribe to their selfish personal plans, which are usually detrimental to the student body’s welfare.

Students thus lack a platform to speak out against corruption and poor governance.

Today’s students are no less intelligent than their colleagues in the 1980s and 1990s. They must realise that their voice in matters of graft and poor governance would be a signal to the two principals that the youth are watching.

Leaders must not be allowed to jeopardise the prosperity that would make Kenya a bulwark of democracy, stability and good governance.

{Ber Nanjira, Mutoma}

The recent protest by Kisii University College students in support of Prof Sam Ongeri confirmed that we are a state of failed academics.

I cannot help but feel embarrassed by colleagues for using their gifted brains to support bankrupt political ideologies.

Kenyans must be told that those hirelings do not represent the intelligentsia of Kenya. Those were political miscreants available for hire out to soil the name of sober comrades who are the engines of change.

I must warn colleagues who were involved that they belong to the stone age and are in danger of becoming extinct in today’s world.

University students shall not be used to rubber stamp impunity.

{Barasa Mulati, JKUAT}