That feeling of importance, of achievement of satisfaction,
yeah that was the state I was in, and who can deny how nice that makes you
feel, after all I was about to be officially welcomed in the larger Maseno
fraternity, I was at last a University Student, making one of my most treasured
dreams come true and here he was Onyango himself, this man whose name elicited
love and hate in equal measure, this man whose name had almost become synonymous
with Maseno was about to give us-fresher’s- a welcoming speech.
I sat in silence watching him pass by, sizing him but silently
admiring him, admiring his grace, his authority and how he was so sure of himself.
Over the microphone-which he did not need because his voice was loud enough to
cover the hall-I heard his somewhat demeaning but reassuring voice welcoming us
to the only University along the Equator where he said ‘we churn out Job
creators not Job seekers’, you could feel his passion talking about an
institution he had offered- then- almost 6 years of service, talk of being
proud to be proud, Miguna style, he deliberately floated his credentials and achievements
in a manner likely to suggest ‘where are yours’?, ‘What do you have under your
belt’? But at the same time it was challenging you to aim higher, work harder
maybe smarter and have some long titles to feel good about.
You see, trying out somewhat unpopular things gives me a
nice adrenaline rush, the risk involved is even worth it especially if you
succeed. It was one of those times that I just had to get it right, somehow
this was my last resort and my academic life sort of depended on it and I
needed help fast! That’s when I mooted the idea of seeking audience with this
man, it took me almost a week planning everything out, I played the plan one
too many times in my mind and once I was convinced, I made the BIG move. It was
the start of my second year semester, not so sure of what laid ahead of me I
asked his secretary to let me in, she adamantly refused to let me in at least
not until I stated the purpose of my visit. I insisted that it was personal and
should be treated as such, I was only going to talk about it with the VC and I
was not going to leave until he agrees to talk to me. The secretary went in and
delivered the message, unfortunately he was too busy to talk to people who had
personal matters but I stood my ground, asked the secretary to let him know
politely that I was not going to leave his office until he agrees to see me.
Sensing my resolve and determination, the secretary went
back a second time and passed my message, this time she came back and gave me a
go ahead nod. A bit off balance, I briskly walked into his spacious and meticulously
furnished office, he offered me a seat, looked at me straight in the eye and
asked what I wanted. I did not mince my words:
Me: I am in my
second year of the University program, pursuing my degree in Computer Science but
I cannot learn the course theoretically and therefore I need you to buy for me
or at least find way in which I can have myself a computer because personally I
don’t have the financial capability.
Prof: Don’t your
department have labs?
Me: Sure there
are quite a number but the fixed lab access times are quite limiting if at all
I am to fully understand this course, it would be proper to have a computer of
my own.
Prof: Surely you don’t
expect me to buy you a computer with my own money right?
Me: Well, maybe,
maybe not but I know whichever ways you are capable of enabling me have one.
Prof: Which high school did you attend?
During this time, our conversation took a friendly turn,
eventually he called the Higher Education Loans Board offices and demanded that
I be given full bursary with immediate effect, and this is the money I used to
buy myself my first desktop computer!
Onyango must go slogan became very frequent whenever KPLC
decided to plunge us in complete darkness.
We were to meet again when he was conferring us degrees and
giving us the ‘POWER TO READ AND DO EVERYTHING THAT APARTAINS TO THAT DEGREE’
Even though he never lived to please everyone during his decade
service at the helm of Maseno University, he did bring about several and great
changes changes that have made Maseno be where it is at the moment.
RIP Prof.
