THE STATE OF STUDENTS’ UNIONS IN KENYAN UNIVERSITIES BY: H.B. MANYORA, PhD.(Media Studies, University of Nairobi) LEAD RESEARCHER, CPS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL

ABOUT CPS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL CPS Research International is a Market and Social research company registered in Kenya with a niche for specialized research in Africa. The company specializes in detailed research in social, cultural, educational and economic state of affairs in Africa. We have extensive experience and expertise in undertaking education research in the Sub-Saharan region

ABOUT CPS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL contd.. Previous work done: 2018 Study on the State of Research funding in Kenyan universities. 2017 Study on Sciences and Arts in Kenyan universities. 2016 Study on Sports in Kenyan Universities. 2013 Study on Basic Education in Kenya and 2012 Study on the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in East African Universities.

ABOUT THE 2019 RESEARCH This study was funded by Pan Africa Educational Foundation Conducted between May and July 2019 targeting all students’ unions in both public and private universities in Kenya The study sought to unveil the state of students’ unions in Kenyan universities with sustainable interventions following the 2016 amendments of the universities act.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Determine the level of awareness and satisfaction among students on the newly introduced Electoral College System; Ascertain the state of satisfaction about student leadership structure and associations election processes in Kenyan universities Establish the areas of concerns for student leadership and election processes in Kenyan universities Recommend on how Kenyan universities can improve the quality of leadership structures and overall election process.

STUDY METHODOLOGY This research utilized a deliberate participatory approach. The survey used face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, key informant interviews and two focus group discussions. The census method was employed in all the 71 institutions. Sample size of 1,300 questionnaires was administered from a population of 638,830 using a margin error of ± 3.0% and confidence level of 95%. Data collected was sorted, validated and analyzed via MS Excel and SPSS programming

STUDY METHODOLOGY: Summary of Research Process

DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STUDY 95.8% of the students were willing to participate in the study, apart from 4.2%. Out of 1,300 questionnaires; 1,245 had positive response except 65 of them. 59% of the respondents were male while 41% were female. 90.4% of respondents were aged 18-24 years, 8.7% for 25-34 years while the rest were aged 35 years and above. 77% of the students were from public universities, while 23% from private 56% of the respondents were in science-based courses while 44% from arts-based 89.1% of respondents were of Kenyan nationality; 9.7% from East Africa and the rest- 1.2% from other nationalities

DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STUDY contd.. 84.8% of the respondents were pursuing degrees, 10% diplomas and the rest in PhDs, masters, certificates, and postgraduate diplomas. 73.3% of students were in 3rd year and below, 4th, 5th and 6th years comprised the rest 91.6% of the interviewees were in fulltime mode of study, others were in part time, ODEL and exchange programmes

KEY FINDINGS The Key findings includes: Awareness, Satisfaction and Constitution of Electoral College Systems Satisfaction, Confidence Levels and issues of National diversity for Students’ Unions in Kenyan universities Satisfaction with the Electoral Process within students’ unions Overall satisfaction score ratings: top 10 universities countrywide, top 5 in public and private universities

KEY FINDING : Awareness, Satisfaction and Constitution of Electoral College Systems(ECS) 85% of the University students were aware of the Electoral College System (ECS) in Kenya 5.6% of universities have failed to implement the 2016 amendments 58.8% of the respondents agree that the new voting system i.e. ECS is adequate 41.2% of the students think the ECS is inadequate and hence prefers the popular vote system. 39% of the universities constitutes their Electoral delegates from Schools while 23.1% ; 20.6% and 9.9% get from their faculties , campuses and departments respectively

KEY FINDING : Ranking Satisfaction with current Electoral College Systems (ECS) contd… Institution Mean Index % score Rank Strathmore University 4.0 80.0% 1 United States International University 3.8 76.9% 2 KCA University 76.6% 3 Technical University of Kenya 3.7 74.3% 4 Machakos University 3.6 72.2% 5 Africa Nazarene University 3.5 70.0% 6 Mount Kenya University 3.4 68.0% 7 South Eastern Kenya University 3.2 63.3% 8 University of Nairobi 3.0 60.0% 9 Jomo Kenyatta University 10 58.9% of the students are satisfied with the current Electoral college system while 41.1% of the students are dissatisfied with it Strathmore University was most satisfied with current ECS having a score index of 80.0%

KEY FINDING: Overall Satisfaction and Confidence Levels for Students’ Unions in Kenyan universities 56.1% of the students are satisfied with their current students association leadership while 43.9% of the students are dissatisfied with it 65% of the students have confidence in their students council while the rest don’t.

KEY FINDING: Issues of National diversity and Two-third Gender rule for Students’ Unions in Kenyan universities 60.3% of the respondents believe the current students council reflects national diversity while 39.7% of them do not agree. 64% of the students agree that the current students council abide by the 2/3 gender rule while 36% think otherwise.

KEY FINDING: Overall Satisfaction with the Electoral Process within students’ unions The satisfaction level of whether electoral process is fair, democratic or transparent stood at 54.6%. Top 10 universities and index score: Institution Satisfaction(out of 5) %satisfaction score Position KCA University 3.8 75.00% 1 Technical University of Kenya 3.7 74.00% 2 Machakos University 3.5 70.00% 3 University of Nairobi 3.4 68.60% 4 Mount Kenya University 68.20% 5 Strathmore University 3.3 66.10% 6 Jomo Kenyatta University 66.00% 7 Africa Nazarene University 65.70% 8 Masinde Muliro University 65.20% 9 St. Paul’s University 3.2 64.60% 10

KEY FINDING: Overall Satisfaction with the Electoral Management within students’ unions 5.9% of the respondents are very satisfied with the election process managers and 23.5% expressed adequate satisfaction levels with them 38.4% of the students were satisfied with leadership skills of the elections managers 18.2% of the students were dissatisfied with elections managers 67% of the respondents are satisfied with how universities regulates campaigns, financing, offences and penalties issues. About 33% of them were less or not satisfied either

KEY FINDING: Overall Satisfaction with the Electoral Process within students’ unions contd… 67.9% of the students are satisfied with election process managers in their respective universities while 32.1% of the students are dissatisfied with them 62% of the students are satisfied with the whole process of electioneering in their universities compared to 38% who seem dissatisfied

KEY FINDING: Campaigns Regulations & Democracy within students’ unions contd… 67% of the university students are satisfied with execution of regulations of campaigns, financing, offences and penalties act while 33% of them are dissatisfied with it. 57% of the respondents think their universities are fair, democratic and transparent with election process, while 43% think otherwise.

KEY FINDINGS : Overall Satisfaction Rating with Students’ Council Top 10 Nationally ( Public & Private universities) Institution Mean Score % Satisfaction Score Position Technical University of Kenya 3.9 77.10% 1 Machakos University 3.8 75.30% 2 University of Nairobi 3.5 70.80% 3 Mount Kenya University 70.60% 4 KCA University 70.10% 5 Africa Nazarene University 69.30% 6 Masinde Muliro University 69.00% 7 Strathmore University 3.4 68.50% 8 United States International University 3.3 65.40% 9 Jomo Kenyatta University 3.2 64.40% 10

KEY FINDINGS : Overall Satisfaction Rating with Students’ Council contd.. Top 5 Public Universities Institution Mean Score % Satisfaction Score Position Technical University of Kenya 3.9 77.10% 1 Machakos University 3.8 75.30% 2 University of Nairobi 3.5 70.80% 3 Masinde Muliro University 69.00% 4 Jomo Kenyatta University 3.2 64.40% 5   Overall Mean score 3.6 71.3%

KEY FINDINGS : Overall Satisfaction Rating with Students’ Council contd.. Top 5 Private Universities Institution Mean Score % Satisfaction Score Position Mount Kenya University 3.5 70.60% 1 KCA University 70.10% 2 Africa Nazarene University 69.30% 3 Strathmore University 3.4 68.50% 4 United States International University 3.3 65.40% 5   68.8%

STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS The students’ unions, universities and key stakeholders should enhance awareness of how current electoral college system works. Need to retain the ECS system as majority of students likes it. Also it promotes national diversity & reduces the probability of violence during elections Student associations should conduct AGMs and students’ caucuses to increase transparency in unions. Engage reputable firms to train universities’ on elections processes and management Finally, intensify students’ leadership development and integrity initiatives in line with University Act 2012 and we propose a further study on the subject.

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