University of Nairobi students who wish to take part in the work-study programme should have no criminal record.
This is the new policy for students applying to take part in casual jobs available at the institution.
Vice chancellor Stephen Kiama, through the communications officer John Orindi, said students should be well-behaved for them to secure those opportunities.
Orindi was speaking during the Crime Si Poa forum where the University of Nairobi Students Association, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and IPOA partnered to change the narrative between police and youths.
He noted that the work-study programme seeks to help vulnerable students earn income as they study.
“Our new policy is that students who engage in crime will not be given work-study opportunities. We want students to be well-behaved,” Orindi said.
The programme will allow students to work in security, maintenance, and housekeeping departments among others.
The communications officer also hinted about students missing out on job opportunities because of irresponsible behaviour.
“We also have employers who recruit through us, through the institution and the first requirement is good behaviour, we cannot forward names of those who have engaged in criminal activities,” he added.
Speaking at the same event, students asked police officers to protect them during demonstrations instead of clobbering them.
The students who were recently involved in a series of demonstrations highlighted bad rapport between them and the police.
“Whenever we are demonstrating against the institution, we expect them to give us feedback, but when police come in and throw teargas at us, have we solved anything? it remains the same,” Felix Kemboi said
IPOA commissioner John Waiganjo called for harmonised communication between student leaders and police officers before starting any demonstration or pickets.
“I want to ask student leaders to always talk to the police, so that they can start the demonstrations together. Police will only come for you if you are causing destruction,” Waiganjo said.
UoN Dean of Students John Kinyua said the administration is working on rebranding the students who have always been seen as "hooligans".
Kinyua called for heightened security across all campuses including setting up security lights and armed police.
“We are moulding them to be responsible citizens. The university has been known for police confrontation but I can say that in 10 years, the narrative will have changed,” Kinyua said.
The institution has been on the spot over the ongoing reforms including increased tuition and accommodation fees.
-Edited by SKanyara