Opinion: South Sudanese students in Kenya need govt help
By Matai Muon
Congress of South Sudanese Patriots for Peace and Reconciliation chairman Dak Gabriel (left) flanked by other members during a media briefing at a Nairobi hotel on December 26 2013. They called on cessation of the political violence in South Sudan. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL
April 1, 2020 (SSNN) — Life outside one’s door knob might be viewed as a luxury from the outside, at least sometimes. Generally speaking, South Sudanese students at home believe that those who are outside the country are the privileged few. Sometimes they could be right as being outside South Sudan these days is more of a blessing. But most times, they do not get it. And this is the reality today with South Sudanese students in Kenya since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the early weeks of March this year. Life, according to one student I talked to in one of the deserted hostels was “hell on earth now in Kenya.”
Since the first case of the Covid-19 was confirmed in Kenya on March 12, 2020, the government has moved in fast, modelling stringent measures to contain the further spread of the pandemic. One of these measures was to close down all schools, higher learning institutions included by Friday 20, 2020.
The closure of schools across the country came with the obvious implications; some students from foreign countries were either quarantined in their hostels indefinitely or sent off without the financial means to do so. Their status has remained horrible in the last three weeks with cases ranging from shortage of food in the hostels, lack of fare to join their loved ones located miles away from the universities to some being taken advantage of by their Kenyan colleagues. Hear this one real story: a South Sudanese female student, in her first year pursuing medicine at the University of Nairobi lost $2,500 following the announcement of the schools closure.
As a result of this, movement of students was restricted. Frustrated, she then sent her two Kenyan friends with whom she stayed in the hostel to go change the money into Kenya Shilling so she could pay the rest as fees while keeping the other for her upkeeps.
The duo took off with all the money. There was no turning back. The case was reported to the notorious Kenyan Police for a follow up. For us who know the Kenyan Police, the money is gone, forever. Right now, the young lady has been left starving in the hostel with the future of her first semester in school in a limbo. This is coronavirus in action. Normally, she would go to the bank herself and had her money changed.
In Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kitale where a huge South Sudanese population, mostly from the low income bracket resides, the Kenyan Police engages in corrupt practices dubbed “coronavirus measures” arresting and detaining South Sudanese nationals, majority of whom, students and force quarantine them until further notice. As one student said, “They come here, take us away and claim that we want to quarantine them at the Police Station.” This even violates the government directives which say among other things, that anybody with symptoms of the virus or in contact with a positive case should self-quarantine at home.
There has been a documented history of the Kenyan Police manhandling South Sudanese communities even before the coronavirus. This time is particularly worse for the South Sudanese students. On March 27, 2020, the government imposed other stringent measures one of which was a night curfew running from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am every day. Since then, South Sudanese students have paid the highest portion. With reduced movement, things have become extremely difficult.
The South Sudanese student’s lifestyle in Kenya runs like this; those in hostels are not necessarily well off, at least majority of them. They leave the house to avoid distractions from the huge South Sudanese households to focus on academic fight while in the hostels. Normally, they go home on a weekend for two things; get some decent food at home, and/or get some fare and upkeeps inside there. With the curfew, that has stopped. One student narrated that normally, she goes home for the long holiday of five months or so to “hustle” but that is not possible now with the curfew and the social distancing measures. The results are disastrous. Money runs out and as a result of the so-called social distancing, nobody visits anybody. The situation is indescribable.
For those who stay at home, they are not privileged either. With the universities going online for teaching and learning, the issue of school fees becomes a reality. South Sudan, the main source of school fees for many has been on a lockdown, and Kenya’s government curfew also affects the banking sector in many ways. For example, local banks with regional networks such as Daabshiil, KCB and Equity have had their operational time reduced from the normal 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to 8:00 am to 3:00 pm each day.
This has negative implications for the banking community but more so, the students. Money has stopped flowing in as a result of these measures. The online learning also comes with its own demands; electronic devices such as computers and/or smart phones to access the internet. Without these, majority of South Sudanese, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds will miss out of these new learning programs. And the universities are not obliged to wait for anybody for that matter. So literarily, life is really a hell on earth here. Imagine this situation: You are quarantined in a hostel. You do not have a friend to visit you. The social distancing means that you keep away from unnecessary social links which in this case are potential contacts. You run out of cash in the hostel and starvation becomes another coronavirus.
When worst comes to worst, you ask the university to let you go home or you die, the university says okay, you can go. But you don’t have the fare to do so. You die.
Appeal to the President and the Education Ministry for Financial Bailout
As a result of this ongoing collective suffering of the students imposed by the coronavirus and other existing factors, it is important to note that all have been adversely affected regardless of their situations. Reports going around that the government intends to help only government sponsored students will not help matters. In fact, it would be a betrayal to the collective cause of South Sudanese students in the affected countries. It is also noteworthy to clarify the fact that South Sudan and Kenya do not have any educational partnership of any sort. As of today, there is no known memorandum of understanding between the two education ministries. This means that majority of South Sudanese students are poor private students who want an education at all cost. They are not on government payroll because the government has slept on that job for quite a while now.
That being the case, the South Sudanese students in Kenya cordially appeals to the government of South Sudan recently formed to come to their aid. They take note of the generous pledge of $3 million for the students in coronavirus affected countries in the region. This is the best government response they have ever received in almost six years. It is a pledge worth noting, and worth celebrating.
Students’ lives in Kenya have been the worst to say the least. Kenya ranks highest in the region in living conditions. Its education system is very expensive comparatively speaking, for an ordinary South Sudanese student. Since the war began, students have persisted, majority missing out semesters because of the deteriorating economy back home. Receiving financial assistance right now would be the greatest peace dividends ever; it is their hope that students get their allotted share so they can survive this pandemic. The story of coronavirus is real. It is killing both directly and indirectly.
Kenya by the 31 of March 2020 stands at 59 confirmed cases, eight and 9 cases confirmed in single days on 30th and 31st respectively, with one death so far, the first of its kind in East African region.
Government projection of the virus is even more disturbing. The Ministry of Health in their daily updates 30th predicts that 1,000 cases by the beginning of April, 5,000 cases by mid-month and about 10,000 cases at the end of the month of April are an eventuality. If this projection turns out positive, the South Sudanese students will be directly touched, and this is going to be a disaster.
Imagine a case of a 100 South Sudanese students testing positive for the Covid-19 without the necessary cash to buy a qualified medical personnel for attention. Death is imminence. We are talking about the future workforce of this beautiful nation. Right now, purchasing a test material and the related services goes for $130 US Dollars. No student can afford this amount. The treatment is even more costly. It is our prayers that we do not reach that stage.
The government of South Sudan needs to follow up on its pledge and release the funds allotted for Kenya without delay before this becomes a catastrophe. There should be no politics whatsoever regarding this noble financial bailout.
Matai Muon is a student of International Studies, University of Nairobi. He is reachable at mataimuon@yahoo.com
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