By Obilo Kobilo
This is an eye opening piece of literature which strives to uncover the
real proprietors and student entrepreneurs within the micro-economy of
main campus. This piece of literature is not meant to depict nor
victimize anybody as an exploitative mogul nor a merchant of financial
brinkmanship out to enrich their pockets
but a journalistic series that captures the movers and shakers of the
main campus economy in order to cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship
within the general student body. It gives insights into the blame game
between the student leaders and the campus entrepreneurs concerning the
soaring of prices of basic commodities within the campus.
Enock Musau
This is the name in almost everybody’s lips during election period. To
many the name is synonymous to exploitation at the Chips Café which has
made the partaking of chips an exercise of ostentation consumption, a
preserve for the affluent of this community and a once-in-a-while treat.
The student leaders-cum-shopkeepers have also found a reason to hide
behind simply by passing the blame to the soft-speaking Musau whenever
questions are raised about hiking of prices of commodities. Who actually
is Musau? Is he really behind the exploitation within the Main Campus?
How did he get himself here? What does he do around? What’s his share
within this micro-economy?
Mr. Enock Musau did his K.C.S.E
exams in 2003 at Kanga High School in Southern Nyanza, Migori county and
scored A (plain). He was admitted at Moi University, School of Medicine
in 2005 but transferred to School of Business and Economics after two
years of study as a medic earning an automatic entry into second year of
study.
He started his first business within the Main campus
with a capital of Shs.60, 000, amount he had accumulated from his HELB
loan over a period of two academic years. He started off with the
Comrade Shop (the shop currently owned by the Secretary General Dikembe)
which he was given by the then Secretary General Mr. Felix Gworo as a
sign of appreciation for the financial support he offered him during the
campaign period. By then, this was the only operating shop within the
campus. At the end of the first semester (after four months), Mr. Musau
had accumulated over Shs. 300,000 opening his eyes for greater business
opportunities in other fields.
He then ventured into real
estate business after securing some loan from his bank. He developed his
first estate in Eldoret town next to Annex Campus (School of law) and
sold it out to some housing firm within the town. By the close of the
academic year Mr. Musau had made over Shs.2.3 Million in profit from his
real estate business and residential apartments. He then ventured into
Matatu business in 2008 after buying his first Matatu which has now
given birth to two more bringing the number of matatu he owns to three.
He coupled these with car dealership venture importing cars from Dubai
and selling them in Kenya,
During the tenure of the 24th SGC
which was chaired by Mr. Domnic Karega, Musau was awarded all the shops
within the campus and the two Chips Cafes next to Soweto Mess at a fee
of Shs. 360,000. He acknowledges that this was possible due to the
dubious tendering process put down by the then Finance Director and the
24th SGC. However, he almost missed out on everything during the tenure
of the 25th SGC headed by Mwamburi Mwang’ombe but managed to secure one
Chips Cafe through some two lady students. The Chips Cafes brings him
between Shs. 1500-2,000 per day depending on the availability of
potatoes which he sometimes source as far as from Molo.
He
doesn’t own any shop currently and wonders why his name is usually being
dragged into any debate concerning exorbitant pricing which has become a
culture in our economy. He runs the first Chips Café from the Soweto
mess a premise which he purchased from the 26TH SGC at Shs.100, 000.
Some directors are among the students who were anti-Musau before they
assumed office, a strategy that aspirants have perfected to win the
students and to sound reformists.
Mr. Musau is now pursuing
Masters in Business Management (MBM) Procurement option. He has rentals
in Kisii and Eldoret towns. He’s also a motor vehicle dealer.
Monday, April 30, 2012
HELB TALE...
By Steve Macharia
The uncertainty in campus due to delayed disbursement of government loan through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has re-ignited students’ activism at a time when Main Campus faces myriad of challenges.
Last week’s bold move by ordinary MUSO members to seek audience with Dean of Students may help bring to the attention of the university the academic cost of going through the semester penniless. By the end of their meeting, a five-member team was formed to join the SGC in pushing the government through relevant departments and organs to facilitate the release of the funds. However, a lot remains desired on how the group intends to undertake the activity.
What is more interesting are the hard-line positions being taken by the two sides making the group. So far, the MUSO Chair has indicated he will not join a delegation with some members of the students’ fraternity present in the group. The opposition of the Chairman to this endeavor cannot be taken lightly. First, he is the only MUSO representative in the University Council. His presentation to the council meeting scheduled this week will determine the eventual end of the undertakings by the group.
A close conversant with affairs of the SGC said a silent rivalry among senior members of the SGC may cost the group the ‘priced tour’ as only a few are coming forward to push the university in seeking intervention measures.
The other pertinent issue is the timelines for undertaking the event. While the group plans to visit senior government officials where appointments are key, no one has come out clearly to state whether any contact has been made with any office. The question that arises is: how possible can the group manage to meet these officials without any proper itinerary? Is there something the SGC is not telling this group? While the Dean is said to have agreed to the groups suggestions with a rider that no national media should be involved; how will it augur with this undertaking assuming the group receives no audience with the expected government officials? The media concern was said to have been raised also by the VC who said it would not do good to the image of the university with his myriad sponsors and ‘friends’ both locally and internationally
The 26TH SGC formally wrote to the VC to seek his intervention on the matter last week. The letter, delivered by the MUSO Secretary General and the Academics Director urged the Vice-Chancellor to engage actively with the government and ensure students get the loans as early as possible.
The vice-chancellor, though not opposed to the petition is said to have requested students to give more time as the university is set to hold a council meeting this week to deliberate on the issue, among other items set for discussion. However, the students leaders while accepting the extended duration were adamant on the issue of students’ sustenance, arguing most students used their survival funds to pay fee hence are beginning to feel the punch.
The writer is a 3rd year Journalism student and a former 3rd Eye managing editor.
The uncertainty in campus due to delayed disbursement of government loan through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has re-ignited students’ activism at a time when Main Campus faces myriad of challenges.
Last week’s bold move by ordinary MUSO members to seek audience with Dean of Students may help bring to the attention of the university the academic cost of going through the semester penniless. By the end of their meeting, a five-member team was formed to join the SGC in pushing the government through relevant departments and organs to facilitate the release of the funds. However, a lot remains desired on how the group intends to undertake the activity.
What is more interesting are the hard-line positions being taken by the two sides making the group. So far, the MUSO Chair has indicated he will not join a delegation with some members of the students’ fraternity present in the group. The opposition of the Chairman to this endeavor cannot be taken lightly. First, he is the only MUSO representative in the University Council. His presentation to the council meeting scheduled this week will determine the eventual end of the undertakings by the group.
A close conversant with affairs of the SGC said a silent rivalry among senior members of the SGC may cost the group the ‘priced tour’ as only a few are coming forward to push the university in seeking intervention measures.
The other pertinent issue is the timelines for undertaking the event. While the group plans to visit senior government officials where appointments are key, no one has come out clearly to state whether any contact has been made with any office. The question that arises is: how possible can the group manage to meet these officials without any proper itinerary? Is there something the SGC is not telling this group? While the Dean is said to have agreed to the groups suggestions with a rider that no national media should be involved; how will it augur with this undertaking assuming the group receives no audience with the expected government officials? The media concern was said to have been raised also by the VC who said it would not do good to the image of the university with his myriad sponsors and ‘friends’ both locally and internationally
The 26TH SGC formally wrote to the VC to seek his intervention on the matter last week. The letter, delivered by the MUSO Secretary General and the Academics Director urged the Vice-Chancellor to engage actively with the government and ensure students get the loans as early as possible.
The vice-chancellor, though not opposed to the petition is said to have requested students to give more time as the university is set to hold a council meeting this week to deliberate on the issue, among other items set for discussion. However, the students leaders while accepting the extended duration were adamant on the issue of students’ sustenance, arguing most students used their survival funds to pay fee hence are beginning to feel the punch.
The writer is a 3rd year Journalism student and a former 3rd Eye managing editor.
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