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{
    "id": 419539,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/419539/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I stand to second this Motion of adjournment. This is because for the last six or so days, students in the public universities, have not been attending classes. It appears that there is not much being done either by the Government or the university administration to sort out the matter. This Motion has come at the right time. We, as a Senate, must express our concern not because this is a devolved function, but since it involves students across the country, it is of national interest. We should discuss the matter with the aim of finding a way out. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, students are in their youth stage. Some of them have just joined universities having been home for almost one or more years. They have been idle. This is the time when they have to orient themselves and go on with their studies. Unfortunately, no sooner had they started than they are left hanging. The impact of this on the young generation cannot be over-estimated. We are trying to build a nation of people with a sense of responsibility. We are trying to bring up these young people to be responsible citizens who will one day come to offer leadership and grow this economy. When they receive signals like this, it looks like we have failed in many ways. As we have heard, funds were allocated for the purpose of meeting the commitments which the university, the Government and the lecturers had entered into. It would appear that somewhere along the line, due to non-transparency or accountability, some funds may have been misappropriated rather than being used for the right purpose. The funds may have been used in the wrong direction yet all these are public institutions. If you read the Acts that establish them, they are answerable and should be audited from time to time to see whether they are operating under the stipulated financial regulations. If they do not, then action should be taken. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you may recall that this problem was sounded way back. It is not something that has just happened. The lecturers started complaining earlier, but it seems everybody buried their heads in the sand waiting for them to go on strike. If this matter is not addressed urgently, then I do not know the seriousness with which we are treating the issue of education, especially university education. For many years we have had the problem of students finishing form four and remaining at home for quite long. It is just recently that the Government undertook to do a double intake to cure the problem. It looks like if we are not careful, we are going back again to the same problem that we are trying to avoid because the double intake is not curing the problem. I think the relevant Committee will have to look at it in depth so that we can know what the problem is. This Senate should find a way of breaking the deadlock. As it is The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}