A section of Moi University students has revealed the state of despair they have endured as persistent strikes and severe financial challenges at the institution derail their academic journeys, leaving their futures hanging in the balance.
In an interview on Citizen TV, the medical students said they have been at the university for nine years, but their hopes of graduating continue to fade with each day.
The university’s College of Health Sciences is characterized by empty lecture halls and disorganized spaces, symbolizing broken aspirations.
Ochieng Francis, a medical student, said “It’s been long since we joined the school in October 2016, so this is our ninth year we’ve done already our eight years.”
The students narrated how happy they were while joining the institution but are now broken.
Lynn Ndegwa, who scored an A of 83 points from Karema Girls School, said her family was happy when she was admitted to pursue medicine at Moi.
“I still remember the joy that everyone had because I was top in Nyandarua County, so I was called by Equity Bank to go and work there as a top girl, so it was it was a very big celebration,” she said.
A number of students have left the institution following a month-long strike and a few holding discussions with the hope that all will be well soon.
Time at Moi University Long & Draining
Noor Salyani said their stay at the institution has been very long, tiring and stressful.
“It has been very tiring it has been draining in every way we’ve been we’re physically, mentally emotionally and financially drained at this point. It’s been a very long stay for us,” she said.
According to the students, every day is a struggle against erosion of their dreams since they cannot practice until they graduate and get a license after a year of internship.
“We came with very lofty ambitions. I wanted to be a neuro Ophthalmic surgeon which is a subspecialty in Ophthalmology. We don’t want to give up on our dreams because we are very strong,” Emmanuel Gudu said.
Societal Perception
Delays have led to societal misconceptions about students’ abilities or commitment, adding to their frustration.
“Those who are currently in their first year in the campuses are people who while we were joining campus, they were in class 4 so when I go back home you know this bright student who topped the district, they think that sort of medical school has become hard for me and I’ve repeated quite a number of times,” Francis added.
“The notion out there is first of all maybe I dropped school, or I have decided to do other things apart from what I’m supposed to do in school but that is not the case. We are we have just been delayed by this institution and the country at large,” said Victor Kigen, another student.
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Appeal to the Govt
The students are now appealing to the university and government authorities to address the situation and allow them to resume their education.
“We are your children we do want to be here I mean we’re all bright people we deserve better, and I mean we cannot do anything as students, but they can actually get us back to class because that’s what we really want. We are actually frustrated staying here for that long,” added Lynn Ndegwa in tears.
Also Read: Profile of Prof. Isaac Kosgey: At the Center of Moi University’s Troubles
Students Stressed
The medical students were affected by the covid-19 pandemic, the doctors’ strike by KMPDU, the nurses strike and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) strike.
Principal of Moi University’s College of Science Prof. Robert Tenge said the students face significant mental, emotional, and financial burdens, with some experiencing severe stress and undergoing therapy.
“There are those who have severe mental issues stress has affected many of our students. In fact, like the 6 medical students last week, they were undergoing a therapy by our colleagues in MTRH so a lot of adversity,” he said.
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