This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
On November 22, 2019, the Nation published an article highlighting the safety concerns at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Just days after the university reopened following student protests, another student was attacked by an armed gang, underscoring the need for urgent measures to guarantee student safety.
Universities have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their students, and this includes providing adequate hostels and addressing the root causes of insecurity on campus.
According to the article, the university's inability to accommodate all learners due to inadequate hostels, resulting from funding cuts, has led to the outsourcing of services like accommodation to private players.
However, this has not ensured the safety of students, with several incidents of robberies, violence, and even death reported in and around the institution.
The article cited a tragic incident in February, where a first-year student was stabbed to death by gangsters, highlighting the need for heightened security and surveillance.
Unfortunately, this incident served as a mere statistic in a long list of similar incidents, and the university has failed to take adequate measures to address the issue.
The safety of students is a national concern that requires action from both the universities and the national government, and the education ministry must rethink funding and management of universities to address the welfare of students.
