When you were still in high school, your teachers could tell you to work hard so that you go to University. What they narrated as their experiences in campus were motivating. They told you that students only attend classes when they feel like.
‘‘All you have to do is read. When you get there, there will be little to read. You’ll have the freedom to do anything you want.”
You read tirelessly so that you can go to a University. You were tired of the school rules which had to be followed strictly, teachers watching every move you make and staying in class the whole day. You admired campus life.
‘‘I must make it,’’ you said to yourself.
You received your letter of offer from one of the best universities in the country. You went to Peter for advice. Peter being the only one who has ever made it to the University in your village, you believed everything he told you. What Peter narrated to you was exactly what your teachers had told you, and so, you considered it the truth.
‘’Whatever one wants is there. Be it freedom, ladies, everything.’’
At home, before you left for campus, your mother told you to go there and work hard so that you may help your younger brothers and sisters. Your father died when you were in primary seven, leaving behind the six of you. He was a primary school classroom teacher. The government had delayed the release of his funds. At form three, you had to stay out of school for one and a half term due to lack of school fees after your sponsor withdrew his help at form two. In the last half of term two, the funds were released. Your teachers proposed that you go back to form two but you proved them wrong when they gave you a test. After the KCSE results were released your mother talked to the priest of your church to help organize a fundraising for your fees. Because you were active in church, the church moved in and sympathized with you.
You promised your mother that you will be careful with your life at the University. She gave you all the money to pay for your first and second year fees in advance.
“My son, take this. It's all I have left. Please, remember that your sisters and brothers education is all on you. Good luck my son.” she said handing over to you an additional Kshs 500. When you stepped into the University, you forgot who you are.
On the day of admission, in the queue, you admire every lady you see around.
“Peter, I see it. Beautiful ladies.”
A lady comes over and asks if you mind letting her in front of you.
“I don't mind,” is your reply.
In the evening, you offer her your bed as she missed the room allocation exercise. She, naive too do not decline your offer. Here, you begin your journey to the Promised Land. Two weeks later, you together with her visit expensive hotels in town: an hour drive from school. You are among the campus tycoons. You rarely stay on campus. Faith has, within no time become your ‘wife’. So far, she has spent only two nights in her room, one of them under your companionship.
She cooks, washes your clothes; she does everything for you. And you do your part quite well too. The money you were given by your mother for year one and two fees has turned out to be for your upkeep. You only paid a little for the admission exercise. After all, no one will come telling you to clear your school fees. You attend no lectures. You miss all the Continuous Assessment Tests for the semester. One week to the beginning of end semester examinations, you're running broke. Your 'wife' has started complaining that she'll leave you soon. Other students who have cleared their semester fees are collecting their examination cards. Luckily enough, your bank account is credited by The Higher Education Loans Board. Relief at last. You decide to clear your fee arrears so that you may be allowed to sit for the exams. A couple of weeks later, back in your room, everyday your 'wife' quarrels you. Two days later, you 'divorce'. Too bad.
After the exams, you go back home for a two-week inter-semester break. Shaggy hair and odd looking, you explain to your mother how life has been so tough at the University. You tell her how you sometimes have to go to bed on an empty-stomach so that you may buy 'hand-outs' to read. Your mother believes you. Your mother tells you not to give up, that one day you will sure make it and change the state of the family.
Second semester began and you became a changed man. You went to church and repented asking God to help you be a better man forever. You joined the Christian Union. You were introduced to a group for bible studies by the Christian Union leaders. A once lost sheep should be watched not to go astray again. That was you. For two weeks, you were a staunch Christian. All went well until one day while at a bible study one evening, you received a notification from Co-operative bank that your account had been yet again credited by The Higher Education Loans Board. After the bible study, you went to the bank ATM to confirm.
"Your account balance is Kshs 26, 000. Thank you for banking with us!"
That was the last you attended bible study and you were never seen in church again.
One week later, you were spotted drinking at one of the most popular pubs on campus and next to you was one of all the ladies, a lady by the name Beryl. Everyone knew her. And you were with her. People will have to know you Johnny. Every day, in the evening, you all get drunk. In the hostel, you hurl insults, you bang other students’ doors and wake them from sleep. You exiled your room mate on the day you 'married' Beryl. The hostel janitor is fed up with your case and has warned you that he'll forward it to the University senate for disciplinary. Since then you never did any exam.
At third year, you were exchanging ladies like pants. You were enjoying campus life. What you had worked hard for at high school. To you, you were eating the fruits of your sweat.
And you don’t go back home for holidays anymore. Other students reported you to the Chief Security Officer of the University for disruptive behaviour at night. Then one day, you felt sick. You started vomiting, feeling weak and losing appetite. You decided to go to the University dispensary. You tested HIV/Aids positive. Back in your room, you find a letter slipped into the room. A letter from the University administration. You slept the whole day. The next day, you left your room telling your room mate nothing. Security officers came looking for you.
In the evening,
“Moja ni ngapi,” you ask pointing at a bunch of ropes hanged in front of a kiosk.
Students wake up the next morning shocked at the sight of your body dangling from the roof of an unfinished lecture hall. Your mother worried about you at home called just when your body was being lowered to the ground.
Abraham O’Obunga is a student at Moi University.
You read tirelessly so that you can go to a University. You were tired of the school rules which had to be followed strictly, teachers watching every move you make and staying in class the whole day. You admired campus life.
‘‘I must make it,’’ you said to yourself.
You received your letter of offer from one of the best universities in the country. You went to Peter for advice. Peter being the only one who has ever made it to the University in your village, you believed everything he told you. What Peter narrated to you was exactly what your teachers had told you, and so, you considered it the truth.
‘’Whatever one wants is there. Be it freedom, ladies, everything.’’
At home, before you left for campus, your mother told you to go there and work hard so that you may help your younger brothers and sisters. Your father died when you were in primary seven, leaving behind the six of you. He was a primary school classroom teacher. The government had delayed the release of his funds. At form three, you had to stay out of school for one and a half term due to lack of school fees after your sponsor withdrew his help at form two. In the last half of term two, the funds were released. Your teachers proposed that you go back to form two but you proved them wrong when they gave you a test. After the KCSE results were released your mother talked to the priest of your church to help organize a fundraising for your fees. Because you were active in church, the church moved in and sympathized with you.
You promised your mother that you will be careful with your life at the University. She gave you all the money to pay for your first and second year fees in advance.
“My son, take this. It's all I have left. Please, remember that your sisters and brothers education is all on you. Good luck my son.” she said handing over to you an additional Kshs 500. When you stepped into the University, you forgot who you are.
On the day of admission, in the queue, you admire every lady you see around.
“Peter, I see it. Beautiful ladies.”
A lady comes over and asks if you mind letting her in front of you.
“I don't mind,” is your reply.
In the evening, you offer her your bed as she missed the room allocation exercise. She, naive too do not decline your offer. Here, you begin your journey to the Promised Land. Two weeks later, you together with her visit expensive hotels in town: an hour drive from school. You are among the campus tycoons. You rarely stay on campus. Faith has, within no time become your ‘wife’. So far, she has spent only two nights in her room, one of them under your companionship.
She cooks, washes your clothes; she does everything for you. And you do your part quite well too. The money you were given by your mother for year one and two fees has turned out to be for your upkeep. You only paid a little for the admission exercise. After all, no one will come telling you to clear your school fees. You attend no lectures. You miss all the Continuous Assessment Tests for the semester. One week to the beginning of end semester examinations, you're running broke. Your 'wife' has started complaining that she'll leave you soon. Other students who have cleared their semester fees are collecting their examination cards. Luckily enough, your bank account is credited by The Higher Education Loans Board. Relief at last. You decide to clear your fee arrears so that you may be allowed to sit for the exams. A couple of weeks later, back in your room, everyday your 'wife' quarrels you. Two days later, you 'divorce'. Too bad.
After the exams, you go back home for a two-week inter-semester break. Shaggy hair and odd looking, you explain to your mother how life has been so tough at the University. You tell her how you sometimes have to go to bed on an empty-stomach so that you may buy 'hand-outs' to read. Your mother believes you. Your mother tells you not to give up, that one day you will sure make it and change the state of the family.
Second semester began and you became a changed man. You went to church and repented asking God to help you be a better man forever. You joined the Christian Union. You were introduced to a group for bible studies by the Christian Union leaders. A once lost sheep should be watched not to go astray again. That was you. For two weeks, you were a staunch Christian. All went well until one day while at a bible study one evening, you received a notification from Co-operative bank that your account had been yet again credited by The Higher Education Loans Board. After the bible study, you went to the bank ATM to confirm.
"Your account balance is Kshs 26, 000. Thank you for banking with us!"
That was the last you attended bible study and you were never seen in church again.
One week later, you were spotted drinking at one of the most popular pubs on campus and next to you was one of all the ladies, a lady by the name Beryl. Everyone knew her. And you were with her. People will have to know you Johnny. Every day, in the evening, you all get drunk. In the hostel, you hurl insults, you bang other students’ doors and wake them from sleep. You exiled your room mate on the day you 'married' Beryl. The hostel janitor is fed up with your case and has warned you that he'll forward it to the University senate for disciplinary. Since then you never did any exam.
At third year, you were exchanging ladies like pants. You were enjoying campus life. What you had worked hard for at high school. To you, you were eating the fruits of your sweat.
And you don’t go back home for holidays anymore. Other students reported you to the Chief Security Officer of the University for disruptive behaviour at night. Then one day, you felt sick. You started vomiting, feeling weak and losing appetite. You decided to go to the University dispensary. You tested HIV/Aids positive. Back in your room, you find a letter slipped into the room. A letter from the University administration. You slept the whole day. The next day, you left your room telling your room mate nothing. Security officers came looking for you.
In the evening,
“Moja ni ngapi,” you ask pointing at a bunch of ropes hanged in front of a kiosk.
Students wake up the next morning shocked at the sight of your body dangling from the roof of an unfinished lecture hall. Your mother worried about you at home called just when your body was being lowered to the ground.
Abraham O’Obunga is a student at Moi University.
