For a long time I only
heard about her, but now I know her. I know who she really is. Dr. Emily Kogos
is (said to be) the Head of Department, Publishing and Media Studies in the School of Information Sciences where I pursue my degree. From papers and
people's mouths, she is indeed an H.O.H, but practically she is just another annoying
woman.
Kogos is (one of) the most unfriendly
lecturers on earth, I understand. With the position she apparently occupies,
the Doctor of something assumes authority more than the president of a country.
This is, in most cases, what one should expect from a woman in a top position.
I guess the administration of Moi University main campus was under divine inspiration when
it denied her the opportunity of succeeding Prof. Japheth Otike as the new dean
of our school. Otherwise most of us would be expelled for such reasons as
coughing in class or owning mobile phones.
On Friday 8th August, I
was in the publishing lab for a noble task with other media students including
those from other schools. On such days, we usually compile news stories for the
whole week, record and edit them into one piece called 'Michipuko ya habari'
which then runs on the Moi University Radio as from 5pm the same day.
It happened that the
H.O.D had, earlier that week, 'bounced' a class and therefore wanted a make-up
that day. With the help of one Okumu Mala, she identified our venue and termed
it 'free' despite all what we were doing with the microphone, mixer, computers
and ours voices. Like John the Baptist, Okumu was sent to prepare the way for
the coming messiah and he really achieved his mission. In the middle of a
recording, the now-passive class rep. quickly switched off all the equipment
with authority from the woman who arrived half an hour later.
We had to migrate to
the studio and take advantage of the off-air instances of an on-going program
to complete our production. Before the class kicked off, the messenger of doom,
Mr. Okumu came to the studio and gave us the final regulation.
"Ok, the class is
about to begin and so you will not be allowed to pass by. You will remain here until
5pm when the class ends." He said.
That was too much for
me and I chose to leave immediately.
Agak has also once fallen
victim of the H.O.D's tough regulations. He had invited a guest for one of his Monday
shows in the studio. Unfortunately, he found the woman lecturing in the publishing
lab and, despite all his muscles, his guest and him were prevented from
accessing the studio because they would interrupt the class.
Whether you want to
enter or leave the studio and you find the 'almighty' in the lab, you will have
to wait for whatever number of hours the class will take before doing so
because you will interrupt her session, I do not know how. Does she really
understand the importance of practical experience in one’s area of
specialization if she can literally make it difficult for student journalism to
access the studio just because she is lecturing at the entrance?
Humility is not
purchased madam. As a woman, an H.O.D for that matter, being friendly to your
subjects is valuable and is sufficient to make them value you in return. There is
no point of sometimes locking yourself in your office and instructing the
secretaries to say, “She is not in” to any guest she perceives to be less
serious as was done to me last semester.
As the principal of my
department, you are obviously responsible for the poor services I receive from
other staff members and the general underperformance of my/your department. I
have been in this university for years but I only saw you once in my life –
last Friday.
Where have you been and
how were you able to supervise the departmental operations? Where were you when
my lecturer, Mr. Mbengei, was acting on your behalf? Where had you gone when my
class harassed some lecturers last year due to a delayed academic trip, results
and other poor services? You have been passive in your duties all those years so why be so harsh? Could it be because you missed the chance of becoming the dean? But you went for an interview and failed so you can wait for three years and try again madam.
Thank you
