Hike In Hostel Charges A Thorn In The Flesh

Those of us who stay in hostels must surely feel a pinch by the hike in hostel charges. In the first place, there was no prior notification that the charges would appreciate. All and sundry were taken by surprise by the new 'illegitimate' policy of the hostel lords and ladies to increase the charges. They took advantage of the short break, courtesy of the lecturer's industrial action, to hike the charges as soon as we resumed studies. To most of them, everything was starting afresh. It's like the first semester had long ended and we had come back for a fresh start.

Moreover, no specific and convincing motive was given for the increase in hostel charges. Some custodians claimed that electricity bills had skyrocketed, hence the need to cost share the lofty bills with the tenants. Others claimed that the five weeks we had come to exhaust needed to be accounted for. Still, others simply increased the charges because others had done so. There are those who gave no reason at all. They laboured to advice the tenants to seek for places elsewhere if they felt uncomfortable with the new charges. What tomfoolery!!

Despite the dramatic mushrooming of of new hostels, it's sometimes too tasking to locate one where one can find the convenience they require. Some friends have decided to go for the rentals and advised me to follow suit. The idea is worth acknowledgeable.

All along, the hostel owner had been pestering me to book a room in advance. Every time I passed around his presence, he would holla at me that I might regret if I don't take his advice. Still, I could not buy his impotent advice or intimidation, whatever you can call it.

My patience and regard for a better alternative gave him the impression that I wouldn't keep around. He wouldn't get more tenants to help feed his over-sized paunch. I couldn't simply tolerate his constant nagging that I register with him since that is the only place where he is the boss, security personnel and the head of his family within the same hostel. Not a bad argument, but some little time is what I need to figure out the next step. But for his acute impatience, anger and promise to lock me out if I came late, I could have kept my resolve. His own palaver; not mine. To add insult to his already irate mood, I dropped the bombshell. I would also move out. This humbled him a little while. He no longer kept his angry face.

I'm sure matters won't be any better for new comers. They'll have to dig deeper into their pockets in order to quell mzee's temper. I know how he'll do it. He will tell them there is no place like his. Even if they pay more, his 'dormitory' is worth the cost.

Joshua Masinde-Makerere University.