By Chris Maina
A group of University student leaders have warned newly re-elected SONU Chairman Babu Owino of ‘going to bed’ with the Jubilee government in exchange of money.
Speaking to Kenya Today, the student leaders from across several public universities in Kenya claimed that the SONU chairman is known for using students affairs for personal aggrandizement, a charge which Babu Owino has repeatedly denied.
At the root of this developing storm is a planned nationwide strike by university students protesting attempts by the government to increase fees. Babu had already called the education cabinet secretary to resign, saying Kaimenyi is the ‘king of impunity’.
““Kaimenyi the cabinet secretary for education must resign for attempting to increase fees for university students. I will call for demonstration to fight this king of impunity. All parents and all pets must participate. No mercyâ€.
But his colleagues seem to be suspicious, insisting Babu may be setting them up for grand failure after while he smiles all the way to the bank.
“We are keenly watching the moves Babu [Owino] will make. . .we are aware he has this penchant of using comrades’ grievances as commercial goods but this time around we are determined to put him in his right place…this is not a Sonu affair,” warned the comrades.
Meanwhile, several MPs have since come to the defence of the students, with Kiharu MP Irungu Kangata warning the government against increasing students fee. Hon Kangata maintained the government should instead increase higher education loans board (HELB) instead of increasing fees for already cash-strapped students.
Education Secretary Prof. Kaimenyi will be hard-pressed to convince the students to budge, coming at a time the government is being accused of wanting to pay fictitious companies and ‘faceless’ people billions of shillings in the now famous Anglo-leasing scandal.