Mombasa: Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Joho has pledged to amicably resolve the grievances of the students at Bandari Maritime Academy. His assurance comes after hundreds of students staged protests over alleged mismanagement at the institution, disrupting learning activities unless their concerns were addressed.
According to Kenya News Agency, the students' grievances included exorbitant fees, poor management, lack of sea time, and delays in issuing the Seafarer's Identification Document (SID), among others. Speaking during the distribution of government relief food to needy families in Mombasa during the holy month of Ramadan, CS Joho emphasized that the government and its people should not be in opposition but rather work together. He assured the students that their concerns would be heard and addressed.
CS Joho acknowledged the issues surrounding the SID and promised a swift resolution, stating, 'I know for a fact that SID is a big issue, and we are addressing it expeditiously so that we can conclude it for our people to carry the document that is required globally. Ordinarily, we should have it a year ago, but we are pushing for it to happen very soon and it will happen.' He also committed to investigating the reasons behind the Sh10,000 charge for student attachment.
Bandari Maritime Academy student leader Isabella Oduka expressed frustration over ignored requests for school fee subsidies and a lack of clarity on fee utilization. The students lamented the poor condition of workshops, citing insufficient equipment and an inadequate learning environment. They demanded a reduction in school fees, describing them as exorbitant, and criticized the administration for failing to address their grievances, threatening to boycott classes until their demands were met.
'We don't attend workshops because there are too many students. There aren't enough classrooms, and we are overcrowded,' said Oduka. 'We have been paying high school fees, yet the services we receive do not match the amount we pay,' added Saidimu Tauta, a student.
Regarding sea time, students demanded transparency in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with foreign nations and called for accountability in the academy's management. Salim Dzuma further complained about delayed examination results and teachers either skipping classes or leaving after only 30 minutes instead of completing the required teaching hours.