Student leaders should put the welfare of learners ahead of political mobilisation, University of Nairobi Students Association President Ahmed Rashid Burrow has said, calling for greater attention to accommodation, healthcare and delayed funding for student activities.
Burrow said student leadership should be centred on solving challenges affecting learners through engagement with university administrators rather than using students to advance political interests.
Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Friday, he said his experience since taking office in June had given him a different understanding of leadership, particularly the need to balance the interests of students, the government and the university administration.
“Leadership, you know, balancing three interests. The students, most important, the government, as well as, you know, the administration. Some of our actions sometimes we as students affect the national security and the day-to-day running of the country as well. So that is what I mean by balancing interests,” he said.
Burrow identified delays in the processing of funds set aside for student activities as one of the main difficulties facing student leaders.
He said approved requests could remain in different offices for months, leaving student leaders with little time to organise activities before their terms ended.
“If you just follow the normal routine, it will take forever for the money to be processed because of bureaucracy. Unlike files staying in a sitting office for a month, then it moves to the next office, stays for another month, moved to the next office. By the time it reaches the expenditure, you're no longer president,” he said.
According to Burrow, the delays often force student leaders to repeatedly follow up with university officials over funds that have already been approved.
He said leaders could make several inquiries about the same request, only to be informed that the file had not yet moved to the next office.
The funding challenges have also pushed student leaders to look for financial support from corporate organisations to run activities that would otherwise be funded by the university.
Burrow acknowledged that banks, companies and other private organisations had helped support some university programmes, but warned against allowing student associations to become too reliant on sponsors when institutions had already set aside money for such activities.
He also raised questions over the allocation of about Sh150,000 for the planned Freshers Bash, which is expected to bring together more than 11,000 first-year students from various University of Nairobi campuses ahead of their admission on August 24.
The event will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and is expected to give new students an opportunity to meet, interact across campuses and receive guidance as they begin university life.
Burrow said counsellors would also be involved in the programme, with students expected to receive guidance on relationships, personal safety and other challenges they may encounter during their transition into university.
Beyond the question of funding, Burrow urged student leaders to think carefully before mobilising learners for political rallies, warning that such gatherings could expose students to violence and other dangers.
He said his own experience with student protests had changed his view after witnessing the impact of political mobilisation, including injuries and loss of life.
“I made a commitment that I will never call students to go to Mandamano, especially when I knew that life will be lost.”
Burrow, however, said student leaders should not remain silent when demonstrations are directly linked to issues affecting learners.
He argued that leaders have a responsibility to mobilise students when matters such as poor health services or hostel conditions require collective action and engagement with the university.
The UoN student president also criticised political actors who use students to advance political causes, saying such leaders can move on to other positions while learners are left to face the consequences.
His comments come amid long-running disagreements between student leaders and university administrations over funding, representation and the handling of student affairs.
At the University of Nairobi, student leaders represent thousands of learners across several campuses and are expected to engage the administration on welfare and other institutional concerns.
Burrow said improving accountability, speeding up the release of student funds and putting learner welfare at the centre of student leadership would help associations deliver better services while reducing unnecessary confrontations with university administrators.