CHALLENGES OF A UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADER

MU-IUPUI 2010 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE, RECONCILLIATION AND DEVELOPMENT: YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE IN THE JUSTICE AND PEACE PROCESS

 PAPER TITLE: CHALLENGES OF A UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADER

BY

Godwin Ong'anya, +254 723 877 098 Email onganya@yahoo.com

Department of History, Political Science and Public Administration, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, P.O BOX 3900-30100.

Abstract

Being institutions of higher learning and training grounds for leadership, universities have been credited for being centres of excellence in pursuit of talent and innovation. Being a student leader therefore bestows to the incumbent a responsibility that defines youth leadership. Often, national leadership has been criticised of insensitivity to serious policy concerns. It is argued in this paper that the society is reflected in the kind of leadership in place, and that it is always the best leadership in place fit for the society in question. University student leaders face a lot of challenges mainly balancing their academic endeavour and the leadership/political responsibilities. Without proper information, conflicts often arise as to the feeling from the student fraternity that the institution is insensitive to their plight. The student leader has to master the tactics of convincing the students that the institution is considerate as s/he tries to not to perceived as too sympathetic to the university. On the other side s/he has to press for student concerns to the administration, which could sometimes label the student an inciter. Pushing a student agenda is another herculean task. The student needs a convincing approach. The system operates in a way that vested interests may interfere with objectivity in consideration of an agenda.