By Joel Clinton
For years, the quiet learning environment that Maseno University once promised has slowly been overtaken by a wave of insecurity that continues to torment its students. What was meant to be a place of growth, discovery, and academic pursuit has turned out to be a battlefield where young people are always looking over their shoulders, unsure of what danger lurks in the shadows.
Insecurity in Maseno has gone past the breaking point. Students, especially those living outside the university premises, have borne an increasing tide of violent crime robberies, most brazenly committed at night, and appalling rape cases targeting female students. With machetes, the attackers roam freely after dark, leaving victims nursing deep wounds, both physical and emotional. In worst cases, attacks have escalated into senseless killings that have sent shock waves to the very foundations of the university community.
The students insist that nothing has changed, despite the presence of a police station in the area. Most believe that officers stationed there are simply too few, too ill-equipped, or too overwhelmed to respond effectively against the scale of insecurity. Night patrols, where they occur, are often sporadic and rarely cover the most vulnerable routes used by students heading to their hostels.
The university administration has for its part tried to impose some internal safety measures, but it is a losing battle. With thousands of its students living off-campus in scattered hostels and rented rooms, the institution cannot promise to offer safety beyond its gates. The students have known that all along, and their frustration has boiled over many times in staged protests, blocked roads, and demonstrations insisting on swift action. Yet, whatever response has come is slow and woefully inadequate.
Today, the cry for help grows louder. Students are calling upon both county and national government to intervene decisively and find a lasting solution. They want more security personnel, better lighting, functional CCTV systems, and serious investment in community policing. They need to see an environment where learning is possible without fear, where walking home at dusk is not a death sentence, and where every student, male or female, can feel safe.
Insecurity in Maseno is no longer a student issue but a crisis that needs urgent attention before more lives are lost.
