- Kisii University students have been urged to use legal channels when disputes arise with their landlords.
- The appeal follows an alleged confrontation involving a female student and a landlord over her rented room.
- Local administrators have called for better relations between students and communities surrounding the university.
University students have been asked not to take the law into their own hands but instead report matters to the police whenever they feel aggrieved by their landlords.
The Nyamage Location Chief said this after learning that some Kisii University students had gone to one of the landlords’ homes and threatened to avenge their colleague, who was allegedly evicted unfairly.
Trouble reportedly started when the female student returned from a long holiday and found her household property, including bedding, had been removed from her rented room and kept in a store to give room for a new tenant to occupy it, although she reportedly had no rent arrears.
The landlord was reportedly intending to rent out the room to another tenant after believing that the first tenant would stay longer at home during the holiday.
When she returned, a disagreement ensued between her and the landlord, and she was reportedly hurt during the commotion.
It was at that point that word reached her colleagues, who launched what they called a rescue mission for the aggrieved student. The situation, however, calmed after the affected student reported the matter at Kisii Central Police Station for investigation.
The station OCS thanked the students for remaining calm and promised thorough investigations into the incident.
Students, landlords urged to embrace dialogue
The Chief used the incident to emphasise the importance of harmonious coexistence between university students and communities surrounding their institutions.
He said universities like Kisii University cannot operate in isolation as they depend heavily on the local community for accommodation, food supply, transport, casual labour and markets for small businesses. On the other hand, the community benefits economically from the student population through house rents, sale of farm produce, boda boda business and retail shops.
He noted that peaceful coexistence fosters mutual respect and security. When students and landlords have a cordial relationship, he said, disputes can be resolved through dialogue and appropriate legal channels.
Landlords can also act as guardians and parents away from home, while students bring innovation, energy and social interaction to the surrounding communities.
Both sides reminded of responsibilities
The Chief added that good relations also encourage cultural exchange and mentorship, where local youth are inspired by university students to value education, while students interact with and learn from their host communities.
He urged landlords to respect tenancy agreements, issue receipts, avoid arbitrary evictions and maintain habitable houses with water and electricity.
He equally asked students to pay rent on time, take care of property and use dialogue and legal channels to resolve disputes.
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He said the Nyumba Kumi initiative, student leaders and the Chief’s office will hold regular barazas to sensitise both parties on their rights and responsibilities to prevent similar conflicts in future.
By Enock Okong’o
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Photo caption: Kisii University students during a recent activity. Local administrators have urged students and landlords around the institution to resolve disputes through dialogue and legal channels following an alleged confrontation involving a student and her landlord.
Kisii University, students, landlords, Nyamage, Kisii, student accommodation, student welfare, off-campus housing
