A concerned member of our community recently wrote in The Standard a letter bringing to light a proposed trip for Guild members which would cost ten million shillings.
The efforts of the writer are commended but it is also important that we have all the facts. The Guild Government has been accused of misappropriating and mismanaging funds.

One of promises in the manifesto of the Guild Government had in order to come into office is the ending of the use of funds on unnecessary trips for Guild officials. We intend to stay true to that promise therefore the Guild Government does not support the plan of a trip for ten million.
In the last parliamentary session which discussed the Budget for The Guild Cabinet, it was the speaker who proposed the said trip which members of the Cabinet vehemently opposed. In fact it is surprising that the writer of the article was one of those who supported the speaker’s initial proposal for the trip and the amount of money to be used on it.
Furthermore it should be noted that the said money was to come from the Speaker’s budget which the Guild Cabinet has no control over. During that session the Cabinet proposed that the money should instead be diverted to other more useful projects. Some of the projects the Guild proposed included:
•        The renovation of the building next to the Guild office as a meeting hall, extra lecture room and indoor game room.
•        The setting up of seats around campus which would not only add to the environment but provide a convenient place for reading and discussion.
•        A long term plan for the setting up of a Guild clock next to the fountain.
There were many such proposals. Some were accepted and others rejected by Parliament. Furthermore, the Public Relations Office intends to begin recording Parliamentary sessions and showing highlights to the entire UCU community. This is meant to help students know what goes on and get them more involved.
There had been rumours of a sit down strike, demonstration by people claiming to represent the Guild. I repeat these are individual elements. Surely discussion is always the way to solve problems and this is the only direction that the Guild supports.  Do not let personal desires get in the way of the long term improvement of our University.
Some better news; the Guild week occurred and there was a lot of fundraising and awareness. We would like to thank all members of the community and all those who participated.

The writer is the Guild Public Relations Officer