Nairobi News

News

Sonu urges new VC to stop proposed fee increment


The Students Organization of Nairobi University (Sonu) has urged the newly appointed Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi to stop the implementation of the proposed fee adjustments at the university.

Sonu chairman Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino said the new VC’s first tough assignment will be to do away with the proposed fee increment.

All public universities are set to increase their fees in a move that heralds an end to the low tuition charges that government-sponsored students have been paying since the mid-90s.

‘ALWAYS CONSULT’

“We want to tell Prof Mbithi that we will work with him as student leaders but we will not work for him,” Babu told Nairobi News, urging Prof Mbithi to always consult them before making any decisions.

He urged the new vice chancellor to also prioritise the construction of additional students’ hostels in order to sort out the accommodation crisis that has been bugging the institution.

Babu, who in October had claimed that Education Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi wanted to appoint a different candidate who was not ranked top by the university council, applauded Prof Mbithi’s tenure as deputy vice chancellor.

“He has served us well as a DVC and we are hoping this shall not change now that he is the VC. We are counting on him to see better services being offered to students,” he added.

INCREASE LOANS

The students’ leadership asked the new VC to ensure that Higher Education Loans Board allocations are increased to cater for the rising cost of living.

Babu said the student leadership would give the new Vice Chancellor time before deciding whether he is serving the interest of students.

Prof Mbithi was formally appointed by the Education Secretary on December 1 to take over the mantle from Prof George Magoha’s whose 10-year tenure has ended.