In terms
of accommodation many
can share their
stories of how
they have been
living ,be it
on-campus ,off-campus and
the commuters .This
has been an
issue of concern
to most ,hopefully I
will make you
understand how it
works.
Being an
on-campus resident is helpful when
you’re a “fresher”
in the university
.This is because
you’re still on
the process of
mastering your adulthood
journey .This will
help you familiarize
yourself with the
new environment and
help you adapt
to the new
curriculum .
Being an
on-campus is an
added advantage because
you will attend
your lectures on
time .The disadvantage is
that you have
to share space and theft
is paramount especially
phones and laptops
.
Off-Campus stay to most
people’s opinion is the
deal .The ones
living in the
localities of ‘ Kahawa Sukari’
,’Kahawa Wendani ‘ and ‘ KM ‘
.Just to
mention but a
few in the
case of Kenyatta
University .This is
because they have
a whole lot of
freedom (Be careful
though not to
end-up being a “ party
rat” and forget
yourself ).
Living by your
own ground rules
is quiet a
privilege .The main
pros is
privacy especially if
you’re introverted .No
one will have to
monitor your move
.In-case you need
to live with
someone to share
bills with ,you
get to choose
your own house- mate.
The challenge
of being an
off-campus student sets
in during house
hunting .Finding a
house that fits
your budget and
has enough space
becomes hectic at
some point .Suppose
you find one ,be ready
to handle the
house expenses and
utilities because if
not careful you
might end up
being kicked out for failure
to pay rent .
Other than
that ,be ready
to curb some
housing challenges such
as water shortages. Expect to
have a water
supply schedule in
most of the
apartments.
The commuters
,they live with
their parents/guardians in
the same house
in their university
life .Some started
their accommodation journey
here ,while others
find themselves here
most probably after
finding difficulty living
independently(the “ boomerang “ generation ).
They are
nick-named boomerang because
they were away
either on on-campus
or off-campus accommodation
then they returned
home .The pros
of this type
of campus living
is that one
has more time
figuring out what
they want with
their life in terms
of career decisions
and passions .Conversely
,living on your
own gives one
less time as you have
to think on
your feet .
It also
saves on a
big chunk of
money that could
be used for
rent and food
instead this could
be pocketed for future use
.Cons of living
with your parents
are associated with
:compromised privacy ,where
you find that
you’ll be provided
with unsolicited advise
on how to
live .
One might
also experience the
social stigma as
it’s believed that
you haven’t made
it in your
adulthood if you’re
living with your parents.
I have
some true stories
on accommodation .Joe
(not his real
name ) ,he
was admitted to the university
hostels when a
freshman ,then someone
broke into his
hostel when he
was away only
to find his
laptop stolen .
This was
quiet difficult for
him to handle .He
decided to pack
and live for
his cousin’s place
that same night
.Living with his
cousin for him
was a challenge
because he had
to follow his
routine and do
most of the
house chores .
He felt
like his privacy
was being intruded
and his time
was being spent
on what he
didn’t like .He
consulted his parents
and thy offered
to rent for
him a house in the
localities near campus
.
So that’s
where he dwells
till date .Sandy(Not
her real name
) was living
off-campus in a
rented apartment ,housing
expenses became a
challenge for her
to handle so
she decided to
return home and
incur travel costs
to school instead.
If given
a choice , once you join academe
you must study
the environment to
decide which type
of accommodation suits
you best .This
is based on your taste
and preference .On
the other hand
if you are
left choice less you
have to develop
an adaptability whereby
you have to
grow where you
were planted .
East or
west education brought
us to campus
so one must
achieve for the
given period of
their course duration
. If change comes embrace the
change ,hope your
accommodation story changes
for the better
!
In Kenya, major cities and town there are
several universities and tertiary colleges leading to the need of accommodation.
The numbers of students are tremendously increasing so you can never go wrong
in Hostel businesses.
