Is the Kenyan university achievement a curse?

Several months ago, writing on this Forum for “Tuesday Tips”, I opined that universities should not act like ivory towers by alienating themselves from the society that they are part. This followed the news of the collapsed residential building in Huruma, Nairobi and the floods that characterized the Nairobi roads at that time. We should note that save for expert contributions made by Eng. Goro of department of Civil and Construction engineering at the University of Nairobi on national television, there was little to no contribution from other staff or students of any Kenyan university in addressing the issues that bedeviled our city at that particular time.  I also wrote that the universities and the country at large should find ways to make use of the millions of young people idling in the campuses, spending a lot of their times high on illegal substances and/or playing video games or betting.

To add on what I wrote then, I’ll share my observation regarding the life cycle of a Kenyan smart enough to make it to university on government scholarship/sponsorship. I’ll draw from my own life story and compare it with what I see about my friends who never made it to college/ didn’t go for any studies after high school.

Born into a struggling family, my parents have always seen education as the only way out of the poverty. It really helps that Evans and I were intellectually blessed and were able to secure government sponsorships to get to the university. Evans just finished his bachelor studies and is awaiting graduation. He has acquired skills, knowledge and information that will be useful to the country when he is given the power to read and do all that appertains to his degree. In addition to the wonderful experiences of university campus life, he has a big burden of an education loan that he has to pay.

Apologies for digressing, what I really meant was to speak about my own life. I am starting my final (fifth) year of electrical engineering in a few days. It has been one wonderful journey through university. I have tried my hands on several things while in the university. A lot of them have been highly successful and resulted in great memories. A lot have been fun. I have grabbed as many opportunities as my limbs have been able to hold.  A few have flopped. My only regrets are opportunities that I let slip by me. I still endeavor to impress my parents by doing well in my university exams. I am glad that I have been able to do that this far. In short, as a student, I have done my best. Has it been one smooth journey since first year? Hell No. I remember the several times that I have had to study while on an empty stomach. I have literally been living from hand to mouth on campus. Financial stability has been one thing I have been chasing since first year. I look into graduating in a year’s time. Am I better off financially now than I was 6 years ago before I joined campus? Hell No. In fact, now I owe the government over a third of a million Kenya Shillings.

Caleb is a friend I was with in high school. Unlike me, Caleb did not go to university after high school. Instead, he borrowed a million Kenyan shillings from his dad who is a national politician and started a company. Three years of doing business and he had returned all the money he borrowed. He lives in his own apartment, is married with two children. He enrolled for a bachelor’s degree and has been attending evening classes. He might be graduating at the end of this year.

Now, they say comparison is the robber of joy but there are times when you have to compare yourself with your peers, otherwise you wouldn’t know if your growth is stunted. Just over a week ago the world’s sixth wealthiest person and founder of Facebook, Marc Zuckerberg was in the country. It is perhaps important to note that he dropped out of college to pursue what he had realized was his life mission. Does the Kenyan environment allow this kind of move?  It is almost impossible for persons from poor back grounds to follow their hearts in Kenya. Because the education we receive makes the difference between our survival and condemnation to the cycle of poverty that has bedeviled our generations. This question of higher education funding has found its way into American presidential campaigns. We, similarly as Kenyans, must ask the hard questions and see ways of having grants instead of loans for our university students.  Young people in universities should also be involved in part time jobs. This will reduce the financial burden that fresh graduates face besides creating more jobs. Hence, better social security for the country. We might just realize the 24-hr economy if we involve our university students.