Private hostel owners to accommodate TUM's new students

The Technical University of Mombasa has come up with innovative ways to provide accommodation for thousands of new students.

The university has partnered with 30 private hostels owners to provide safe and secure housing for the students outside the university premises.

TUM Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Research and Extension Prof Peter Gichangi said the private hostels have been vetted by the varsity.

“The students are looking enthusiastic to join the university. The parents are happy to bring their children here. The only disappointment is that we have limited hostel space within the campus,” said Gichangi.

Currently TUM accommodates only 1,100 students in the main campus and another 430 students in Kwale campus. This is against a student population of 20,627.

Thousands of new students thronged the institution for admission following placement by the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS).

TUM is expected to receive 4,500 new students.

The 30 private hostels will provide accommodation for about 10,000 students.

“We knew and anticipated the accommodation problem and so we planned for it. That is why we pre-qualified some hostels which are safe for our students,” said Gichangi.

Some of the private hostel owners were at the university on Monday to register the new students to their hostels.

The private hostels charge between Sh3,000 and Sh5,000 a month and have their own rules for security purposes.

The hostels are within a radius of about 5km from the university.

“We have been allowed to come to the university to take some students to our hostels. It is a good partnership with the university for us,” Ahmed Abdulrahman, a private hostel owner, told the Star.

Abdulrahman converted his rental flat into a private hostel in 2019.

Gichangi said all students were being admitted so long as they were placed by KUCCPS.

“Since the 4th we have been admitting students. Students and parents were responding to the government’s call. Whether they have original documents or not, we were admitting them and giving them time to provide the documents.

“So, although our official date of receiving students is today, we started admitting them on September 4 following the government's criteria,” he said.

The government advised universities to admit students irrespective of the categories they fall under.

Under the new university funding model, there are four categories of students including vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy.

By last Friday, the university had admitted nearly 800 new students.

“We are expecting about 4,500 both degree and diploma students. These are students placed by the government,” the Professor said.

Despite the government's call for admission regardless of the category, Prof Gichangi said, parents were still asking to pay.

“It is interesting to note parents are asking how much money to pay, even without being asked to. They are volunteering to do that. When such a request is made then we advise the parent accordingly,” Gichangi said.

Outside the institution tens of small scale traders made a kill as they sold small wares like basins, buckets, books and other essential items.

“Business is good. Many people have bought buckets from me and I am happy. In this economy, you have to know what people want and provide for them for you to survive,” Ernest Kinyanjui, a trader, told the Star.

Meanwhile the new students will be undergoing an elaborate process to ensure everything is made ready for their learning.

For instance, on admission, there is a desk where the new students have their passport size photos taken for processing of their student identity cards.

“As soon as next week, they will start receiving their student ID cards,” Gichangi said.

The DVC also said the new students are provided with security information including the safe areas and neighbourhoods to stay in.

They will also sign a code of conduct to guide them on the dos and don’ts.

The new students will undergo orientation on Wednesday with the university Vice Chancellor Prof Leilah Abubakar addressing them on Friday.

“By next week, the students will be in class. We will make sure we cover the two weeks lost after the government extended their entry date from September 4 to September 18,” Gichangi said.