Why students go on strike in Kenya ....
Yesterday I came across a group of striking high school students who decided the best way to strike was pack and go home. I dont know why they were striking. Actually, most of us don't. Well, I have compiled a number of reasons as to why schools in Kenya go on the rampage and what they do during such strikes, as compared to the western world!
- When students in the west go on strike, they beat teachers with eggs, carrots, cakes and all types of food. Well if these types of foods were available in Kenyan high schools, students would never strike!
- When students in the west go on strike, they hold sit-ins, boycott classes and protest at the school square. In Kenya when students go on strike, they would want to hold sit-ins but there's nothing to sit on; they would want to boycott classes but by that time the classes are already burnt; and they would want to protest at the school square, but there are no school squares in Kenya!
- When students need to protest in the west, they call the media and express their grievances and demands after which those in charge of education see whether they are achievable. In kenya, if you are seen on TV during a strike, your expulsion letter is written awaiting your return!
- When the students go on the rampage in the west, police are called in to ensure innocent students are not hurt by their colleagues. In Kenya, when police are called, they seriously hurt the innocent students and their colleagues!
- In the west, such strikes are normally led by student leaders who are known and recognized as student leaders by the school administration. In Kenya, the leaders who lead the strikes pray to the high heavens they are not known or recognized by the school administration.
- In the west, heads of schools mostly emerge to try and talk to the students in a bid to calm them down. In Kenya, if a head of a school showed his head during a strike, that would be the last time that head would be seen standing on a neck!
- In the west, such protests are voluntary for students. Those who choose not to join are normally free not to do so! In Kenya, strikes are mandatory. It does not matter whether you understand what the rest are complaining about. If they find something worth complaining about, you join them or else...
- In the west, the students mostly hope that their grievances will be met by the school administration. In Kenya, the ultimate grievance they want addressed is one. To be sent home and the school to be closed indefinitely. Everything else is mostly a by-the-way.
So you and I know one thing. Students in Kenya enjoy strikes and all they need mostly is to go home! Therefore, to avoid strikes, I propose that all schools be closed indefinitely every once in a while.
But then, dont you think they are rehearsing for the rampage they will cause in 2012 after the election considering they will all be out of school by then? Or what do you think?
