Kisii University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Science & Technology, the University of Nairobi, Narok University, Moi University, Mount Kenya University, Africa Nazarene University and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga are some of the institutions that have chosen this serene, hilly, rainy town tucked away south of the Lake Victoria water basin as home.
Kisii University, a public university with its main campus in Kisii, has a population of more than 17,000 students. It has five learning centres within the town. The combined student population in town is more than 30,000.
This sudden influx of young people has brought many changes to the town.
To begin with, students have been a well-deserved shot in the arm to Kisii due to their high spending power. This has considerably raised the standards of living for residents.
However, social issues which come with young people are causing rifts between the society and the student population.
The large and diverse university population may conflict with the locals because most of the considerable age difference when compared to older residents of the town. They also come from diverse backgrounds and subscribe to different cultures.
Dr Henry Onderi the chairman County Education Board and director at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University argues that the local population has experienced a culture shock.
“These are universities that came up in an area that was predominantly rural. It is the first time the locals are experiencing such a different form of communication, dress and lifestyle that is characteristic with the student population, “he says.
THERE ARE BENEFITS
He adds: “They should however be viewed positively as they come with a lot of benefits social issues notwithstanding. Employment opportunities, investment opportunities and such are just some of the benefits brought about by universities”
In Europe for instance, a university town is generally characterised by having an old university in the area whose progress is intertwined with the progress of the town. Some of them have morphed into cities like Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.
The economy of such towns is closely related and highly supported by the university structures which may include student societies, business incubators, libraries, sports facilities and hospitals.
Professor Blake Gumprecht, a social geographer and a leading authority on the subject of college towns, describes the American college town as a “unique type of place, shaped by the sometimes conflicting forces of youth, intellect, and idealism.”
In his book The American College Town, he dissects the intrigues of such a place by handling student related issues in relation to the locals.
He argues: “college towns typically create and exert a dominant influence over the character of the town. In essence the institutions spill over to encompass the locals who may be predominantly conservative.
So, does Kisii town have the characteristics to classify it as a university town? Has studentification taken place?
Studentification refers to the act of a growing student population moving in large numbers to traditionally non-student neighbourhoods.
Kisii has suffered studentification as the colleges and universities in the town do not house their students. More than half the student population live in private hostels or rented houses off campus and within the town.
Estates like Jogoo which formerly housed mostly Kisii Bottlers ltd employees is now teeming with students. Just behind Kisii University, Nyamage, a place formerly characterised by Chang’aa dens and crime, a student village has mushroomed up with investors fighting to acquire plots to construct houses for the students.
Professor John Akama the Kisii University Vice chancellor says the locals should accept the changes and move with them.
“One of the mandates of a university is community development, these students contribute to community development and it’s motivating to see young men carrying out projects in their communities,” he says.
MISTRUSTS STUDENTS
He continues, “Students are young and they will of course seek entertainment in clubs and such, in as much as we don’t want our students to be drunks, we cannot stop them from enjoying themselves.”
A section of society however mistrusts the students. This is not farfetched owing to how rowdy students get when they are protesting or worse, rioting.
Elijah Mokaya bitterly remembers the last strike orchestrated by university students that saw him lose property worth hundreds of thousands of shillings.
“Yes sometimes we are afraid of the students, you know they are many and when they attack you, you better comply or they will beat you up. The last strike they broke into my shop and carried stuff away, and I unable to do anything,” he says.
Kisii County deputy governor Joash Maangi has called for understanding between the two factions of society.
He also refute the notion that the people who are engaging in prostitution in town are students as the public has openly accused.
“Just because these young people may not dress decently as per our standards, we the older generation, it does not mean that they are prostitutes,” he says.
“These are people who are only busy for about six hours a day and they have the rest of the time off, so they want to have fun because they have a few shillings sent from their parents they can spend.” he adds.
Kakamega and Maseno towns are among other towns which have transformed because of the presence of universities.
Maseno for instance was set up mainly as a learning centre but developed into a town as Maseno University grew.
Kakamega was a sleeping giant until Masinde Muliro University kicked it back to life and transformed Kakamega town in a vibrant society.
Source: Daily Nation
Leave a Reply