Of Education and Industrialisation

The University hostels are relatively affordable, but the circumstances may dictate students’ choices otherwise

Students’ hostel at kabianga University, Main campus.

Once agricultural training centre, a field of banana, kabianga University has attracted industrialisation. Houses are constructed to accommodate the rising number of students and businesses. To meets the needs of a crowing centre, every kind of investment is being established.

Though, the newly admitted students may not meet with the on-going students to increase the traffic for businesses, for the University fears to strain resources, the locals are experiencing economic growth.

At the glance is the students’ residence. Its capacity is limited. The University can house up to 75% of a group of students on session, an “excellent housing” according to Mr. Bett, hostel warden. The students on session, whose majority are first years, are about nine hundred. The rest of the students, however, are housed by the private hostels.

The rule that Students who are housed must have paid the semester fees has made students to look for accommodation outside, which exodus appeal to investors to build more residence. Mr. Makau, the head of hostel department said, “the University set policies that govern the housing of students.” Therefore many students are housed in the private hostels. Private hostel praise the monthly payment.

The University hostels are relatively affordable, but the circumstances may dictate students’ choices otherwise. “A student would pay Ksh 2750 in a semester to be housed by the University, and Ksh 1500 per month to rent the private rooms,” Makau added.

At the same time, students’ convenience play a role in their choices, some have kids to raise while studying, some cannot live by the hostel rules –allocating up to four students to a room, men keeping off ladies’ rooms after ten in the evening and vice versa; some students delight in the tranquility of the private houses and their privacy.

Ken, a first year student would stay, for now, in the University hostels. He is new, and he is “acquainting with Kabianga.”

The University housing policy favours the government-sponsored students. They are considered partners with the University. They are paid for, so the University policy of “pay and the get housed” does not affect them. Thus, they pay less for accommodation.

Students’ varying interests contribute a lot. Sometimes, interests take them to the private hostels. “When the students of opposite sex want to live together, they rent private room outside campus for their privacy,” Mr. Makau said. The students named it “infringement on their maturity”. And Paul, a student said, “we are mature, warden popping in at night to check on us is laughable.”

To meet the increasing number of students, the private investors are constructing more rooms. If all student were to progress into each semester at the same time, there would be pressure on hostels. The extension would house up to 2300 students from the current capacity of 1725.

A businessman investing in housing outside Kabianga University. Photo by author.

Kabianga University held a forum to encourage the private sector to build more houses. The meeting, dated, may 2012, was to encourage investors to kabinga. There are new hostel rising around the University as a result.

Living outside the University may be costly and insecure, a sign for the need of competition and good houses. In December, 2012, a private room was broken into, property was stolen, and it was unrecovered. Fearing insecurity, the students are limited to the option of living in the University hostels, queuing for meals for along time, and living by the rigid menu of beans and Ugali (offending students on diet), and sharing one bathroom among fifty six students. One student said the University is experiencing “rooms’ pressure.”

There is an imminent need for goods and services for the growing university. Neither the accommodation in the campus nor private hostel is satisfactory. Students must go farther to satisfy their interest. At the campus hostels, student may not content with the facilities, so they must go outside for satisfaction, or even for curiosity –a good customer to harness.

Youth SACCO Takes a Leap

"no security is required to borrow loans, members guarantee themselves, members are the owners of the organisation, and therefore enjoy the dividends"

Youths have woken up from being young and dependent, from high expectation, from building on political promises, from poor saving culture, and formed Kericho Youth Sacco. Before now youths –people of high potential, driven by curiosity and confronted by the future –used the conventional banks to save, borrow loans and finance theirs tenders.

A Jua kali enterprise funded by Kericho Youth Sacco

This is the story of youth groups who did not have objectives before 2008, when leaders had made them believe they are the leaders of tomorrow, which is a possibility. After coming together they got a sponsor who helped them only when they had started saving: a shilling for a shilling.

After 2008 violence, Youths wanted to put their energy into something worthy, income generating activity that would make them self-reliant. During skirmishes, most of the horrible things were committed by youths. The youth forums brought them to realize their potential.

Kericho youth Sacco, which got its capital from USAID, is a microfinance organization whose membership, is open to anyone –the modifier “youth” does not limit the adults from joining. It, first, begun with kericho county with the plan to extend it operation. “Small and medium enterprises are our customers,” said Kibet, Sacco treasurer. “It can be owned by youths, or partnership of youths and adults. All are encouraged to register their members.

In phase one, capacity building, it registered 1500 groups. And so far, a bout 400 members –groups and individuals –have joined. The sponsor, who was interested in the ambitious –whose energy could be turned into anything –, begun giving grants which build the base for saving in the Sacco.

Their fund is revolving. Therefore its rates are as low as 12% interest per annum, perhaps on a reducing balance. On average, the interest is below 12%. To join, one pays ksh 300 for registration and ksh 1000 for shares. One is eligible to borrow loans after saving for six months.

The youth Sacco has merits: no security is required to borrow loans, members guarantee themselves, members are the owners of the organisation, and therefore enjoy the dividends. Kericho youth sacco offer products such as Je Utahama lini?, kilimo, savings and credit, and finance of tenders.

Sacco's Kilimo services have helped starters earn money

After the government procurement preference, many youths are worried how to finance tenders that would be worth millions. In any case, a member of the youth Sacco would get the first priority. The burden has lessened.

It is run by members –every member’s voice is heard. The governing board is elected. In every three years, the county youths elect a delegate from the wards that would elect the county board. Its operation is under the ministry of devolution, formerly ministry of cooperatives, and it is audited by the government.

A Need to Register Business Enterprise

"With unemployment rate so high, knowing a good business is equally important"

A picture of a limited company

Job creation is anyone’s responsibility. A county government can only employ up to 3000. An average population for a county is 700, 000. So, a creative administration, in order to reduce the rate of unemployment, takes advantage of 30% government procurement preference to employ –by funding start-ups. To venture into self–employment, would-be entrepreneurs must have business enterprises and companies.

Companies and business enterprises are registered by registrar of companies. To start with, a promising entrepreneur writes a letter to the registrar to reserve a favorite name. The name, from a list of three names, is picked after two days.

Afterwards, three documents, which prepared by a lawyer –to describe the objective rules, subscribers and authorized share capital –, are needed: memorandum and article of association and the statements of nominal capital.

The entrepreneur then fills a situation of office form, list of director’s form –always two or more for a limited company, declaration of compliance form, which is signed by the commission of oaths. It details the office address and number of directors.

After 21 days, a period that follows the filing of the documents at the registration office: memorandum and articles of association, the registrar of companies issues a certificate of incorporation. Here, a company seal is essential. A seal has a company’s name and acts as a signature.

A registered seal of a limited company

The statutory condition is that one must have a personal identity number, value added tax (VAT.), pay as-you-earn with the KRA, registration for NSFF and NHIF, and premise license. In the registration process, a business agent can support, or an individual can do it alone.

Knowing the process of company registration is not enough, a business idea must be at hand. This determines the location, the capital and the name of the company. Is it about construction or food? With unemployment rate so high, knowing a good business is equally important. Few have money to invest. And wise investment leads to employment. For instance, two trucks which cost forty million can employ four people, and investing the same amount of capital in a barbed wire rolling plant will employ more than twenty people with a higher profit margins.