JKUAT IS EMACIATED

Once a prime institution. Very technologically advanced and citadel of innovations. As an alumni, I spent my undergraduate studies admiring and receiving world class services and training between the years 2006-2010. The foods irrespective of whether it was the so famous end semester No. 9 or Ronaldo, or the luxurious menu of 32 which was a combination of meat, mboga, and Ugali and mostly consumed at the start of a semester. These were well cooked, well served and enjoyed in a clean cafeteria. Hostel corridors could be cleaned twice a day, loos could be cleaned more than that. The staff was friendly, ready to guide and listen irrespective of the approach of the students. But of course, there were a few isolated or a negligible number of staff with stinking attitude though never deserved any attention. Lawns were well watered, kept, walkways cleaned and well lit, lecture halls scrubbed, well lit, chairs repaired or replaced, window panes fixed and broken glasses replaced, no trace of dust. But, lol, that was 2010.

I had a rare opportunity to visit this prime institution, my alma mater on Thursday, September 1, 2016. I arrived at the main gate at exactly 7.00am. I was asked to leave my national ID at the gate, but I wondered why, especially after presenting my original self, original ID and after enduring the unfriendly attitude of the Askaris. They asked why I'm that early to the institutions and who I wanted to meet at 7.00am. Of course, I explained myself and had to get a copy of ID and leave at the gate because I was not sure whether I needed to identify myself again while inside. I left to the offices, met my former lecturer at about 7.25am. Finished my business with him and left to the Chairman's office.

It was already 7.50am, the offices not opened, and I met some first years on the corridors.
"Do you know so and so lecturer, teaching so and so Unit, oooh,  the so and so Unit is supposed to be in this venue but we don't  know the location of the venue, would assist us to locate the venue". Such were the questions from these newcomers.

Being an alumni, I used my yesteryears map to particular offices and halls I knew but realized most of them had either been relocated or locked. During all this time up to around 8.20am, only lecturers offices could be seen opened, but administrative offices were locked. Finally, the chairman's office gets opened by around 8.30am. I walked into the office and found his Secretary. A lady, warm at heart with a very broad smile. I needed not to introduce myself. She had a photographic memory. She smiled, warmly welcomed a former frequenter to their office and gave me a seat.

I informed her  the reasons why I'm back to JKUAT after those years. She told me the Chairman ain't in already and she can't speculate when he's likely to be in. So we had to wait in some cloud of darkness. I realised the Chairman we left is no longer the one in charge. Though the current one taught us some very crazy Units of which getting a D was a celebration. After a lengthy conversation, I got to learn and knew that I was to deal with a very difficult person ahead.

At exactly 9.33 am, the Chairman arrives, I allowed him to settle and then I walked in. First, he didn't know me and I expected him not to. He needed a proof that I was a student in JKUAT at some moment. He sent me to the Examinations Unit of the Faculty. I dashed and met some mean looking lady seated behind I desktop computer. I said "good morning" and she responded coldly. I then introduced myself and relayed why I was in that office and what I needed. All this time, she kept glaring at her computer. She finally lifted up her face and looked at me. I explained myself again. She finally opened her mouth and said the person who could give me such information had already left and so I needed to come back the next day. Immediately, I looked at the watch and realised it was 9.50am.

I asked again her "you mean he has left for the day or to some errands?".
Her response "I don't know. I've told you to come back tomorrow and if, in any case, he will be around"
Then I said, "But, I think he's your colleague and you can easily stand in for him and assist me with the information I need?"
She calmed for some time, gazed at me and slowly but firmly repeated "Come back tomorrow, he will assist you tomorrow"
From this moment, I knew I was finished.

I went back to the Chairman's office, explained to him and right away, he sent me to the Central examination department. I dashed, found a receptionist. I greeted her "good morning". Her response "to you".

I explained myself while all this time, she was moving from one shelf to the other. She then said, " You're in the wrong department, you need to go back to the person who sent you to send you to the right place". At this time, I started feeling uncomfortable and I needed to act tough. All of a sudden I became loud and refused to leave until she directs me to the right office. She finally told me to go to the Admissions office. I moved quickly to the Admissions office because time was so much spent. At the Admissions, they again directed me to a different office. I dashed once more, only to realise it was the Registrar's Office. I explained myself then I was requested to write a letter to formally request the information I needed of which I did very fast.

Then now, I had to wait for some minutes to pick the letter. I was finally done.

But then here is the main story:

JKUAT was DIRTY & SMELLY

Corridors were dusty, offices smelly, toilets unwashed, broken and dark, lawns dry, walkways dusty, dirty and with the leaves of trees you can think about. No trace of cleaners.
Windows of lecture buildings and offices broken and unfixed, walls dirty and unpainted, students looked emaciated and frail, staff were late, lazy, lacked focus and looked exceptionally bored and gloomy without any limited form of motivation. Let me not spoil the party for the three rats that crossed my path while moving along the walkways. I thought about the hostels and immediately realised that bedbugs have a nice environment to thrive. Rats are having a field day. Students could be seen in Students Centre all bearing the smell of cigarette smoke early in the morning.

When it comes to service provision, excellence should be celebrated by everyone, whether the provider is your friend or enemy.

When the service rendered is to the dogs, the attitude stinks, the processes are confused and decentralised and the condition is extremely poor, it doesn't matter whether the provider is your bed mate or sworn enemy. It's not about gender or being malicious. JKUAT is EMACIATED of services.
JKUAT NEEDS A SAVIOUR. JKUAT IS FRAIL. JKUAT IS DYING