Coastals shun varsities

Story by ABDULSAMAD ALI

Although several universities have set up campuses at the Coast, only a few local students have enrolled for degree courses.

“It is a shame that only about five per cent of the total enrolment are Coast people while the remaining 95 per cent are from other areas. There is no difference if these campuses were opened elsewhere in the country,” said local leader Mohammed Zubedi, who is a former East African Legislative Assembly MP.

He said the universities had established campuses to “quench the thirst of coastal” residents but it seems only those from upcountry are benefiting from the services.

Institutions that have opened campuses at the Coast in the recent past include University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Methodist University and Moi University.

“I appeal to people from this region to take up classes and stop complaining that we do not have our own,” he said at the weekend.

He said some people complain that successive regimes have forgotten Coast in national development.

“Although these claims could be true, we should not wait to be favoured. We need to work harder so that we can be respected,” he said.

Important role

He commended the universities, saying they played an important role in empowering the people economically.

The former MP appealed to leaders to help those who cannot register at the campuses due to high fees.

He warned against rising indiscipline in secondary schools in the country and called on parents to form committees to investigate these cases

Courtesy of:http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=127815