By Bernard Majale,
NAIROBI, Kenya-The university next to the park, so it goes.
When I googled MMU while searching for a suitable institution to further my studies, I found it ranked as the second-best communications university.
The fact that it was located next to a national park sealed the deal. Being a sucker for nature, I thought, why not? Who wouldn’t want to see wildlife up close? Tourists pay a hefty price and travel great distances to witness what I could experience daily. The affordable fees were an added bonus.
My first drive down Magadi Road was like something out of a nature documentary. The lush green vegetation, posh neighborhoods, and impressive architecture were breathtaking. Baboons seated with their clan members’ by the roadside. Out of nowhere, the institution gate appeared. It’s right there; you won’t miss it.
As someone who appreciates tranquility, I loved it. Warthogs are perambulating around the school, monkeys are literally on every tree, and there are a bunch of trees.
I took a walk through the university to see what I was getting myself into before heading to the administration. The 115 acre was picturesque. I was instantly captivated by the natural beauty of the campus.
My first trouble with these animals was one evening, after a rather busy day, when I went to get some snacks in the local school canteen. A monkey swooped from the tree and snatched the crips off my hands before I could even react.
The cafeteria was surrounded by baboons of all sizes; whenever students got their lunch, they would come closer, hoping to be fed, and when push came to shove , they would not hesitate to take the food right out of your hands. Girls are most harmed because women pose the least threat to these misogynistic beasts.
Since the school has pledged to preserve wildlife and respect its natural habitat, the only things that can be done are to try to keep the animals under control and warn students not to feed the animals on purpose—a policy that can be challenging to carry out.
After hyenas began to appear at the school, particularly in the early hours of the morning, things got worse.
A student was injured after being mauled by hyenas one evening, and there were signs posted throughout the school alerting students to be cautious and steer clear of areas where jackals, hyenas, and snakes have been spotted. Even worse, a guard claimed to had seen a cheater wandering around the nature park.
Living and studying at MMU is a daily adventure, blending the serene beauty of nature with the raw, unpredictable wilderness.
It’s a place where the line between the classroom and the wild blurs.
The author, Bernard Majale, is a Journalism student at the Multi-Media University.
