University girls now out-booze men.

 Source: Std

Alcohol and female university students are coexisting just fine in campus. This is what is probably fuelling the mushrooming of alcohol joints around Kenyan universities. Female students have surprisingly taken to alcohol with such gusto in campus and will be seen in the early hours of the morning staggering to their hostels.

A spot check by Campus Vibe revealed that Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture (JKUAT) has about 37 pubs within its vicinity, which is higher than any university in the country. Mike Nyoro, a financial engineering student at JKUAT says that young female students are now drinking their male counterparts under the table. Emily Naiserian, also a student at the institution, agrees that there are more female than male drinkers in campus, and attributes the trend to “difficult coursework,” which requires them to “take something to relax the mind.”

Popular joints near JKUAT include Kwa Maggy, Extreme, Amigos, Tortura and Staright, where students throng for cheap drinks that cost as little as Sh20. At Mount Kenya University, the case is the same, with popular joints near the uni being Zinc, Image, Pokys and Tamasha. The number of drinking joints near the university has increased from six to 14. But students also visit out of the way pubs like joints in Thika, which have become quite popular.

Kenyatta University (KU) has seen an increase of bars within its environs from six in 2012 to 18. A particularly popular joint among students here is Gully Side, which has cut a niche for itself with low-priced brands exclusively targeted at students. There are also numerous liquor stores, popularly known as ‘wine and spirits’ close to Peponi, Bakhita, Adler, Future Leaders and Ivory hostels. Female students living in ‘The City of Angels’ (Kahawa Wendani) and Ruiru prefer Makuti, Comrades Inn, Beckis and Classic. For those who don’t want to venture outside the confines of campus, there is always Annex, where they can binge to their satisfaction.

Egerton University is now surrounded by 12 pubs, up from eight, and a good number of these are reportedly owned by fellow students.

At Maseno University, the number is now 28, which is an increase from the previous 16, whereas the figure for Masinde Muliro University (MMUST) is 19, excluding bars and traditional brew dens that are patronised by a good number of students. Diblo Manwa, a MMUST student, says, “At Masinde Muliro, we have young women who take busaa with us.” Moi University has seen the mushrooming of over 25 alcohol joints near the institution. Joints that attract more students here are Fracas and F2. For those looking for some privacy, small clubs in Eldoret are ideal getaways.

At the University of Nairobi, the notorious and attention-seeking girls are a constant feature at Simmers, Bettyz and Tortilla. Gerald Muema, an alcohol shop owner near MKU says, “Hata wasichana siku hizi wanagonga pombe sana.”

A 2011 report by the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) estimates that half of all alcohol and drug abusers in Kenya are between the ages of 10 and 22, which is the bracket within which most university students fall. Odek Ogunde, a researcher, says the mostly abused substances in the country is alcohol at 84.2 per cent. Other substances are tobacco (54.7 per cent), cannabis (19.7 per cent) and inhalants (7.2 per cent).

Catholic University of Eastern Africa’s student peer counsellor, Nicholas Maingi, says four of the clients are ladies who drink excessively. “Some of them tell me they carry alcohol in their handbags and chew cinnamon and gum to suppress the smell,” Maingi reveals. Joan Musumbaa, the Miss Kenya title holder and KU student says: “Marketing promotions featuring women on billboards advertising alcoholic drinks could be one of the reason for the rise in female drinkers.