EXCLUSIVE: Elections Malpractices in Kenyan Universities

Technical University of Mombasa is the giant center of education in the Kenyan Coast. Africa has always lagged behind in many fields, not because it cannot move forward, but because the drivers haven’t reached a point of realizing that they need to re-ignite the engine and take us more steps ahead, at least behind the others even if we can never beat, or match them- we should at least compare.

Everyone who can read this piece I’m writing, is old enough to remember 4^th March 2013; all of us know very well that, we were only hypnotized by previous outcomes; preventing us from revolting, since the elections were not fair enough. Yes, the process was not transparent as it was planned and insinuated and even expected by the country men and women. After all the plans and preparations, we all had it wrong; ballot papers picked somewhere, some places people vote more than registered, and altered results.

Africa has ever since our Kenyan post election issues been faced with similar election malpractices. Talk of our sister country Uganda-where Museveni had Kizza Besigye (an opposition leader) and his allies arrested when they were clinging on justice. Zimbabwe, the big man Mugabe cleanly denied defeat by Tsvangirai openly stating that he will remain in power until he hits 100 years of age.

In our daily state, we all know that the world around us is a big mirror that can easily define how our life operates.

What really causes election violence and malpractices? Corruption is the mother cause, and on this, Kenya is number one. And nobody can easily displace it from us, because it has lived with us 50 clean years. A preacher once told me that sin committed for a long time becomes a character. Look at when Mohamed Ali planned to unearth the after math of 2013 4^th March election, the ‘higher powers’ were on freeze, people have been sacked and Mohamed Ali has to edit his presentation and present it for approval before he airs it. If not, this is Kenya.

I have a strong feeling that a time is coming when we – the young generation – will rise against the blind fold of the peanuts we are given during campaigns and say we will be the champions of transparency.

What happened in TUM recently 4^th April 2014 was a stupid character- and allow me say it was a stupid way of manipulation. The TUM Constitution 2014 clearly states that the General Elections are to be conducted by an Independent body. For some strange reasons, the person in-charge of such matters, the Dean of Students currently serving, Mr. Maganga allowed the Electoral College Commission to conduct it. Of course money matters are associated with such acts, no doubt. With proof, elections started at 2.00pm, intentionally, there were less ballot papers, and no secret booths too.

When the voting begun, the people issuing the ballot papers had some influence and were either bribed, carried or had some weird ideas. They were giving out more than one ballot papers to voters. Stupid enough, some people who were given such, did not raise an alarm-Kenyans are used to theft and corruption. We are a people who will appreciate even if we board a matatu and the tout forgets to ask for the cash.

Let us think in four faces: I planned to use this money, this person needs this money to run his family, the vehicle needs fuel to be on the road, and above all, there’s the vehicle owner who needs the lion share every week or day from his investment.

If the TUM voters stood then and said halt to the entire process, it would have been good enough. However, another problem or challenge rather is that, we make a lot of noise when the Constitution is being reviewed-oh-how was the Review Committee formed-oh-why did you put so and so to be the Chair or part of it; that’s one of the most stupid ways of approaching matters. People are always fighting to pull the ‘meat’ towards them, and that’s the attitude- we as educated chaps should totally refrain from.

When we were reviewing the Constitution, being a member of the committee, having been in this system for 4years, and seen 4 different leaderships- of which the last three failed us terribly including the current where people looked at how much they are getting from the budget, and not how much the students are benefiting from the activities we have laid for them this session semester. If we demote the ‘I’ and adopt the ‘WE’ or better even ‘THEM’, we can go far friends.

In TUM, the main challenge it has is that the Deputy Dean of students has never taken action on sensitive matters such as money matters. When I was the speaker of Parliament 2013, at times I would go to him, report to him the suspicious moves by certain individuals to mishandle students’ money, and he would take it then, later you get the information from other sources he shared with. Working with the other Dean, Dr. Munga was very fine, but when he left to be the Director at Ukunda Campus…there the rain started beating us.

First, they disabled the Parliament, then they tried as much as possible to avoid parliament sessions. And many other funny things followed like ‘chewing’ the money that was set to review the constitution.

To all students in Kenyan And Universities anywhere, and citizens in the world, let us get it that what we do today affects our tomorrow. There are no free things, everything someone has to account for in some way. So, be smart, be vigilant and resist the devil of corruption. As learned people, we should stand against such things and in this way, we shall go afar. Lastly-let us embrace peaceful demonstrations in all times, the days of burning up a hostel because mess food was not well prepared are gone. Let’s style up, be better than the people who came before us.

To TUM, don’t accept to go to election conducted by the admin or students, there’s money to hire experts-settle for the best for the better of TUM.

Comrade Power.
Be the change you want.