THE OPPOSITION CUM THE STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVES.

by Obilo K'Obilo

On the 30^th of August 2011 that is last Tuesday to be precise, a group calling itself the student representatives released a very loaded memo warning the students against applying for the advertised positions for commissioners to sit in the constitutional review committee. One mr. Orina Okeri acting on behalf of S.G.C had earlier advertised the said positions through the official MUSO circular.

The self proclaimed student representatives registered their displeasure with the move by the S.G.C to make the process all inclusive claiming that the said committee had already been formed and approved by the Dean of Student. They went ahead to cite the minutes taken in their meetings which they alleged gave them the mandate to review the MUSO constitution without necessarily soliciting support and contribution from the student fraternity.

The political drama was yet to reach its crescendo. The mayhem in the political scene was now being turned into business through forgery by a felon student representative body. The group swore the Kenyan politicians’ style never to be intimidated and to carry on with the process irrespective of the S.G.C stand.

Now consider these questions: Who chooses the student representatives? Can some people just wake up from their slumber and declare themselves student representatives? What is the role of S.G.C in student representation? Are we operating in a vacuum -the Somalia way -where anybody with just a little grey matter and a modicum of moral education can release a memo to cancel one done by the legal body in charge of student affairs? Section 12.4 of the rules and regulations state in part: “Advertising notices must be in approved designated notice boards and shall be subject to approval by the Dean of Students Office”. Was the advert approved by the dean of student? If so why approve two contradicting and competing memos?

Have always nurtured the idea of having an opposition like body to check on the excesses of the S.G.C. I still play custodian to the school of thought that the S.G.C really requires some outfit to question some of its wobbly indulgences. I’ve always and will always castigate any pro-democracy exponents while extolling the virtue of one body monopoly. But the mantra peddled thought that the so called Student Representatives can dictate to the Student body and the S.G.C how to run their affairs is a despicable piece of intellectual hogwash or else just tell me where on earth can amorphous body without any clear leadership structure and consisting of election losers lead a mosaic constellation of intellects of the caliber of University students to?

Before attention was shifted to the constitution review, the tide which swept its way through the various campus discussion joints was all about ousting the current S.G.C officials from the office. This is an idea which to me is long overdue since some of the directors are better sent parking before they suffocate our intelligence by their see-nothing say-nothing and be opaque approach to the matters affecting the students like the insecurity issue. However offering a blanket condemnation to the whole body is a suicidal arrogance, uncalled for action and an undertaking that is synonymous with willful distortions of even the most obvious facts.

If Mr. Cyprian Obwogo the Finance Director courageously decided to mess up with the tendering process, what has that got to do with the MUSO Editor-In-Chief Mr. Nyariki who only happened to join the S.G.C courtesy of fate? The Chair who was the main target of the opposition has on several occasions disassociated himself from the tendering process terming it corrupt and scandalous, should we, therefore, send him parking the PLO way since shops were taken by the directors?

It is only those who have mastered the art of numbness to the self and to the public who can find themselves in the throes in which the so called student representatives have found themselves in. Remember that to dream is happiness but to wake up is reality-this group should be treated as a medieval era aberration and should be made to pay the price of stark madness. Otherwise what are they opposing or who are they representing?