The Makerere Kenyan Student Association (MUKESA) is holding its elections 22nd of april 2008 to elect its officials.
The newly elected electoral commission chairman Fredric Obada said, “ we expect to hold elections on coming tuesday.” More than six candidates are expected to vie for presidency. They are Birghen Kiplimo Eliud, Shukuri Ibrahim, David Simba, Goefrey Ng’ang’a Joel Manyonge Mukhongo, Phylis Wangare. other posts in contest are vice chairman post, secretary, organizing secretary, treasurer and publicity secretary.
The candidates have been blamed for aligning on tribal basis. Many students feel that the elections are set to worsen the already divisional among students, James Maina BDVS II student said, “The candidates are dividing us further, they have done so with the tribal associations and now they are in MUKESA”.
The problems at MUKESA date back three years ago when the Financial and Bursary was mismanaged by officials affected the reputation of MUKESA. The officials have been blamed for allocating friends and themselves bursary making the needy students to be discontinued at University for fees defaulting.
Last year the elections were marred by massive fraud which led losing candidates form tribal associations to air their grievances. The associations formed are GUMUSTA, (Gusii Makerere University Students Association), MUGEMASA (Makerere University Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Akamba students’ association). Others are for Lou and Kalenjin. The candidates are aligning themselves to individual associations to help them win the elections.
The incumbent President Dismas Musembi is happy to have completed his term and warns the incoming president to be prepared of tough challenges ahead.
