Survial Tactics

The reading of the budget the other day made me realize that Kenya is looking forward to hard economic times. The financial burden of the budget is always shifted to the common “mwanainchi”. The
people who know how to deal with harsh economic times are students. I can recall the different tactics that people used to survive in Masinde Muliro University.

Income generating activities in Masinde Muliro University is a common scenario aimed at surviving hard times. Selling of women’s clothes and shoes is among the most common business ventures. Hairdressing among the ladies is also prominent. The services are offered at a comrade price and it favors their school timetable. Several gents have invested in motorbikes to engage in the ‘bodaboda’ business. When you visit the university hostels businesses like printing and photocopying, selling of snacks and selling of movies, are gaining prominence day by day. It is amazing how economic needs breed successful entrepreneurs.

Entertainment is the heart of any student’s social life. Masinde Muliro University students have developed a culture of organizing trips. They look at trips as a fun and affordable way to tour the country. Other ventures which students consider fun are joining clubs like Drama or Choir and games like rugby and football. These are creative ways of spending time while exploring ones talent. Clubs and sports have prove to be rewarding because students are awarded an allowance during competitions and they get certificates. Another way in which students have fun is going out. To cut on cost, students have chosen to go out only on Fridays and they opt for cheaper places, others have replaced Beer with cheap liquor like KEG, Napoleon and Kenya Kane.

Another way in which they cut on cost is through cost sharing. Non- resident students have been teaming up to rent cheaper rooms and share the cost of the rent. The students have also gone ahead to share the cost of basic shopping. Several resident students have defiled the university regulations and are now cooking in their rooms. This is a cheaper option as compared to buying every meal.

There are several organisations, which look out for university students. One of these organisations is The Higher Education Loans Board, which loans students money to pay part of their tuition fee and cater for their basic needs. Another similar organization is the US Aid, which sponsors needy students, there is also The Constituency Development Fund, which gives students bursary. Just recently, there was the ‘Wezesha’ project, funded by The World Bank, which had the aim of assisting students purchase computers. Students also enjoy special discounts from certain firms, for instance there is The Yako supermarket, which offers 2% discount to Masinde Muliro University students.

Owning several Sim - cards from different mobile phone service providers is now a survival tactic. Campus students are very keen on call rates and Internet offers from different networks. Shifting from one network to another depending on the offer has helped students save on money spent on airtime. This was evident during the price wars between the different mobile service providers.

University students are not great spenders when it comes to textbooks. This could be attributed to the poor reading culture and the advancements in technology. The Internet is a rich source of information and people are now able to read books via the Internet. Despite it being a bad habit it has been a great way to cut on cost. For those who opt to purchase the books they go for the second hand books, which are cheaper. They continue with the chain by selling the books to those at a lower level when they no longer need them.

These are among the many tactics being used by students to survive.

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