By John Majau
Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) students now want the Education Ministry to establish the number of students who have left Kenya and are working in the Middle East.
The call came after the news that Ms. Diana Chepkemoi, who was working in Saudi Arabia, was holed up in the kingdom for three months while being tortured by her employers.
Diana returned to the country on Tuesday, 6th September.
Addressing journalists at the campus in Meru, Mr. Hanington Oguk, the president of MUST Students’ Association, said an investigation should be done to establish how many students are working outside Kenya and the location.
“Diana represents just one of the many students who find themselves in such situations and they have to work hard to pay for their education and upkeep. We want the government to establish how many are out there,” said Mr Oguk.
Ms. Chepkemoi, who hails from Bomet County went to the Gulf state last year to work and raise money for her studies at MUST where she was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science Management and Technology.
Ms. Pauline Atieno, another student leader studying Civil Engineering said students need to be assured of safety abroad.
“Whatever Diana has gone through should not happen to anybody else in our universities. We also call upon the government to allocate more funds to the Higher Education Loans Board so that they can study,” she said.
Prof. Ramanus Odhiambo, the university’s vice-chancellor said Ms. Chepkemoi has been welcomed back at the university and is to be placed under the varsity’s work-study program.
“This program is designed to empower the needy students and she will enjoy a flexible schedule to study and work within the library and will be granted accommodation,” said Mr. Odhiambo, adding that the university had informed the family about the plans.
