Most university students better known as comrades can now enjoy their well-deserved holidays after winding up their January-April, or May-August semester.
The three months at the university may seem short, but many can testify that the months were characterised by financial agony.
That means campus life for comrades is never a walk in the park.
Their stories are punctuated by struggles to pay fees, rent hostels, and have a square meal.
Many live by the law of the jungle where only the fittest survive.
There is, therefore, a need for all stakeholders to understand the struggles of modern-day students in Kenya’s public or private universities to make their stay on campus dignified and humane.
It remains a riddle that parents and guardians want good grades from their children, yet most of them barely support them financially.
Could such failures be out of negligence or does society strive to give us life lessons in hardships?
Understandably, citizens are undergoing economic hardships but for comrades, the situation is dire.
Inflation means a plate of ugali and sukuma wiki has nearly doubled in recent years.
Budgetary allocations from government and parents should, therefore, take cognisance of such rises.
Perhaps out of despair many students have to deal with depression.
Others have turned to crime to survive, which may explain the many in-campus muggings that expose comrades to agony and misery.
Unfortunately, even politicians are capitalising on desperate comrades who are turned into campaign tools.
Some of our brothers and sisters are paid to hurl insults, or soil the opponents’ names, whether online or in rallies.
Now that most of them are back home, they could find something lawfully gainful to do and save some cash in readiness for the new academic year, beginning in September.
Equally, parents should not abscond from their duty to ensure their children have food, shelter, and clothing.
The icing on the cake should be timely and adequate Helb disbursements to ensure we do what took us to university- to read, research, and do all that appertains to our degrees.
It would be more than a favour if parliamentarians would revise Helb interest rates.
The rates are high for a country that’s flourishing with unemployment.
On the flip side, comrades have been urged to embrace innovation and creativity as a means of earning an extra coin and stop being dependents.
Various NGOs and corporates have come to aid by organising events and competitions that encourage creativity and innovation.
Most known is EABL where students in the graphics world are given a chance to showcase their talents by organising a competition where they are tasked with coming up with a suitable logo for their re-brand.
The top three designers are awarded.
It's time comrades realise that they are on their own and now take matters into their own hands as those who are meant to look at our issues have failed us big time.
With 21 days to the elections, students have been urged to make informed decisions on the ballot by choosing leaders that have their interests at heart.
It's now time that comrades resorted to having three meals a day, paying rent and school fees on time, and having some pocket change.
It can never be business as usual as comrades thrive on the rule of the jungle.
Freelance Journalist and Student at Multimedia University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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