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{
    "id": 591208,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/591208/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 274,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this Motion of adjournment. As I contribute, let me join my colleague Hon. Olago Aluoch, the families of the students who have lost their lives--- On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Rarieda, I send my heartfelt condolences. These lives that have been lost were young lives which are promising. I am a parent, I have children in universities and I honestly do sympathize from the bottom of my heart with the families that have lost their loved ones. This is because in most families in Kenya, a chance in a public university is a promise to a good future. So, to lose a life in this manner is the most unacceptable way. Even as we do this, I think it is time that we looked at the management of our public universities in general. The tendencies by the university councils to want to interfere with virtually everything that goes on in universities, including student elections, is a most despicable act and must be condemned. There are universities today whose leaderships want to literally put their fingerprints on everything and anything that happens in them. This is most unacceptable and has to be condemned. If we are to inculcate the principles of democracy, we have got to start early. Let the students campaign. Let the universities not be commercial institutions that they have been converted into, because this is not helping us at all. It is completely inconceivable and unacceptable. I know the Vice-Chancellor of Maseno University is a good friend of mine. I know there have been problems between the Council and the Vice-Chancellor. However, to be told of a situation where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an institution cannot be allowed back into an institution in a time of emergency, is the most unacceptable thing. How are our universities being run? I think incidents such as these, much as they are regrettable and unacceptable, may be an opportunity for us to go deep into carrying out thorough audits of public universities. Most Members here got their education from public universities just like me. I had the privilege of getting education from public universities. Incidents such as these, much as they are regrettable, should also be an opportunity for us to carry out thorough audits into what is going on in our public universities. You have heard of what is happening in the universities. Whether it is the University of Nairobi, you have heard of the tussles between the Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Finance and Administration. You go to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenyatta University and Egerton University and it is the same. Some of the courses being offered, the consideration being given in offering those courses is anything but ensuring academic excellence from our universities. Let the universities go back to what they The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}