Disclaimer: Many did it, but I have majorly noted where I was and saw. Dont mind about the length Bill Dian Ondari OgegaThomas MuguroPhilip KietiMunyao Francis Sagero Leonards Elijah Victor Koech Karl K Kairu PART ONE The aftermath of last year’s peaceful demonstration kept ringing on students’ minds, a simple mention of the SGC would scare everyone, this is because of the inhumane and trivial times the then democratically elected leaders were going through. Apart from Kip and Ayieko who kept on fighting, the others had succumbed to pressure and threats. I remember meeting the two guys when they were going for their appeals’ hearing after they were suspended for between two to three years. I asked the two security guards tasked to ensure that they don’t move around campus to give us time to share a few words. I told them that all would be well. That semester passed fast and we had to break for a two-week holiday before resuming. We had expected things to be back to normal, but alas! This was not to be the case as in that semester we saw unspeakable acts, for the first time in my stay a security guard tried to harass me, I had some bitter exchanges with him and being above the game, I recorded him when he took it so personal and would use it against him appropriately. The situation was getting worse by the day, the continuous water shortages, the unilateral suspensions, the unending power blackouts, and the sanitation condition around the campus, Dr. Ngoo’s cruelty became unbearable. The then interim led by Limo (I came to know him later in the sem) were just there. We had expected the interim to be in charge for at most two months, before going to the polls, but this was not to be. The guys were unwilling to give up the positions. Several trips by a group of students to the dean’s office were fruitless as the guy (Mr. Jonathan) was so timid to even he could not face the then DVC Academics Prof. Shitanda and tell him of the situation on the ground. I remember presenting and idea to a group of guys who were so receptive about it. The plot was to evoke a clause in the Universities’ Act 2012 and the University’s Handbook, which provided for a duly elected students’ union. I was to contact a Commissioner of Oaths who would oversee the swearing in of a group of five we had identified to be the most suitable to lead. Things never worked out as planned as I remember being summoned by the then Vice Chancellor Prof. Oyawa who warned me of dire consequences if we went ahead with the plan. I felt kinda demoralized, because somebody must have spilt the beans. The following day at around 5pm, I checked in Campus after a day-long work at the Ministry of ICT. The moment I arrived outside block E (hostels) I found Leornard Sagero and other three guys, I identified one of them a Mr. Wambua who works with the security department. The moment Sagero called me out; I knew something was in the offing. The two guys approached me and identified themselves as Juma and Silas from the security department in the university and they had tried to reach me on phone in vain. They told me they wanted me to share out something with them and I should accompany them to their office. When we arrived at the office (was my first time there), one of them took out a file of printed items, which I identified as my posts from facebook because of the attached photo. They told us to record a statement concerning some leaflets which had been spreading in the university warning of dire consequences if elections were not held with immediate effect. I had actually read about the leaflets on the “Swaggers,” I knew there was nothing of much concern, as I was ready to defend my stubborn facts on facebook. I took the piece of paper and pen they had given me and I noted what was necessary. Sagero refused to record any statement. I did the thing in around 20 minutes, but before we left they told me to come back to their office the following day, but I informed them of my schedule for that day and told them to get me via phone I also gave them a suggestion to be represented if they really wanted me to be there. Since then I opened my lines for all incoming calls. Being a gadfly, I had to get some history of these security officers who had been interrogating me in case I wanted to use such information in the future. I actually got their details, their “former” work stations and their status at mmu. The following day, I arrived at MMU at around 2pm. It was pleasing to learn that a group of students embarked on collecting signatures to force the administration to arrange for the elections, Presidential contestants Wambua, Shem , Munyao and Bob among others were to record statements with the same security guards after being found going around collecting signatures. That evening I remember going with another group comprising of Sagero, Kairu, Koech, Shem, Thomas and two others to the DVCs office to inform him of what we wanted. We were ushered into a conference room since the DVC was out for a while; the Dean of Students (I was meeting him for the second time) came and chaired the meeting. We shared on a range of issues, until the elections topic came up. We bitterly disagreed with him on handling the issue we agreed to select two to discuss the issue with the then DVC Academics Prof. Shitanda the following day at 8am. I was unanimously selected and the contest between Sagero and Shem tilted in Sagero’s favour as Koech, Kairu and Thomas bitterly opposed Shem. Together with Sagero, we visited Prof. Shitanda ready with an elections schedule, which Prof. Shitanda said they will consider it before giving us a feedback. That afternoon, the moment of madness got onto the dean, he took records of those who had visited the DVCs office and called their parents and guardians. Personally he branded me a dangerous blogger, which I didn’t take lightly. The constitution and Elections A day later, the DVC called me and Sagero to his office and informed us about the harmonized schedule which would lead to elections. He said that since the exams were almost coming, the elections were to be held next year (this year) and not as we had scheduled. PART TWO COMING SOON
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:40:31 +0000
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