UoN students to strike as Babu Owino ‘clings to power’
The University of Nairobi students have notified the police of a planned two day demonstration over what they are terming as “clinging to power” by their union chairman Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino.
In a letter written by a student Ronny Mamba Ayumba, the students stated that in accordance to their union constitution, their parliament should have been dissolved on March 8, a month to the next union election.
Mr Ayumba added that the students during their two day demonstrations will present petitions to the Vice Chancellor’s office, that of Nairobi governor, education cabinet secretary’s office, interior affairs cabinet secretary as well as the Ethics and Anti-corruption office.
He accused the chairman of illegally overstaying in power by failing to move the dissolution motion.
The two day demonstrations shall take place in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu counties.
“We shall use the following roads, Lower State House road, University Way, Koinange Street, Wabera Street, Harambee Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Kenyatta Avenue, Riverside Drive, Chiromo/Aboretum area, Ngong Road, Valley Road, Lower Kabete Road, Kikuyu Road, Parklands Road, Moi Avenue in Mombasa and Jaramogi Oginga Road in Kisumu,” stated the letter in part.
PARLIAMENTARY SEAT
The students want the Student Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) parliament dissolved to pave way for April elections.
The current Sonu chairman, Babu Owino, is vying for the Embakasi East parliamentary seat in the upcoming August 8 general elections.
According to Mr Ayumba, Babu has been using the just concluded lecturers strike as an excuse not to move the dissolution motion.
“The excuse he is using of lecturers being on strike is a charade. The lecturers must not be present for Sonu elections to be held. If anything, those who fill the role of staff commissioners are usually school Deans or college registrars who are not on strike. Comrades are in campus and that is all that is required,” said Mr Ayumba.
Our efforts to get Babu to respond to the accusations were unfruitful as calls went unanswered.
The lecturers resumed work on Tuesday after calling off their two-month strike over salary increase.
