I couldn’t swim in the pool because I was used to ‘bathing’ in the river

I joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) for a degree in economics and political science in 1990.

That was the time a campus student was envied and held in high esteem by society, because we acted and spoke like true intellectuals.

I loved the Development Administration unit which offered forward-looking solutions to various problems facing humanity. It was also taught by my favourite lecturer, Prof Walter Oyugi Ouma.

Group work and class presentations made learning fun, while tutorials helped foster research and constructive thinking. Student to lecture ratio was fine and we never crowded lecture halls, not even hostels like Hall 11 where I stayed.

But ‘Boom’ and a lot of freebies in campus were withdrawn and a ‘pay as you eat’ programme introduced, making life difficult.

I played soccer and did a bit of swimming. At times, I regret being used to swimming in the rivers because I missed on new tricks in the university swimming pool and subsequently on a competitive platform.

Our favourite entertainment spots were Visions, Bubbles and Parklands Shade Hotel (now K1) and Garden Square for live rumba music.

Mongo Chimwaga graduated from UoN in 1995. He has an MA in human resource management, from Maasai Mara University.

- Robert Amalemba