Dialogue Magazine SWA Nairobi

Great strides…. but challenge abounds.
It gives me an honour to write about SWA now as outsider. I have been part of the SWA family since the 24th November 2004 and I must confess I have witnessed and indeed been part of the great changes that SWA has had over the time. I assert with no fear of contradiction that HAMIS was godsend to SWA. The system has been effective in ensuring much of the accommodation fees are collected in full and at the beginning of the semester. Those who have been in SWA longer than myself remember the days when the Headquarters could not fuel its cars. Surely for them the change has been more that just remarkable, it has been dramatic. And for such change there were and still are many people committed to change. Many people have had to make difficult and at times confront what seem like impossible challenges in order to take SWA to further steps of prosperity. For instance we may now take it for granted, but HAMIS faced enormous challenges to be accepted by people who preferred the status quo. It may not yet be time but we must on reflection thank all those who remained committed and worked for its implementation. Unfortunately, the University has no clear ways of rewarding such people, but again I believe the greatest joy to them is to see their idea, working and the transformation it has created. When all is said maybe it is time to attempt a review of the system. There is need to cure some of its shortfalls and begin to use it to maximum. For instance there are provisions for transfer of funds between the Headquarters and the SMU’s or between the SMUS themselves. This is like a clearance system that banks operate with the Central Bank. This module will further deepen the information captured by HAMIS if it was adopted.

But there are numerous challenges….. for example our colleagues working in the catering department do not deserve condemnation by any body. Many of them are doing a splendid job but they face many constraints that make them not break even. There is need to attempt to address the challenges on catering. These way the two twin sisters of SWA, that is catering and accommodation can begin to work together in harmony bereft of accusations. I am aware that many of our staff in SWA complain of stagnation in one grade for a long time. This is a genuine concern but I must assert that the problem is not limited to SWA. It is a systemic problem. For some reason the University attaches more significance on academic papers rather than the ability to do a job well. May be SWA can moot again the idea of a school of catering and accommodation. This way the Authority can train and certify many its talented individuals so that when the time for promotion comes they have the papers. Of course skeptics will ask but how can this be done? Such skeptics need to know that the Library has a diploma course on going and is very helpful for professional and career progress. I know there was that proposal to start the school of catering and accommodation; maybe it is time to re-dust the document and pitch a new attempt to appropriate organs of the University.
Makokha Wanjala M