This might sound funny were it not so tragic. Reports indicate that the University of Nairobi students had started agitating for the reinstatement of their union, Sonu, and the recalling of all the students expelled for allegedly leading similar riots and other misdemeanours in the past.

Their Vice-Chancellor addressed them, presumably trying to forestall mayhem, and promised them that Sonu would, indeed, be reinstated and the expelled students recalled.

That, apparently, was enough to make the students go wild with joy - so wild that they proceeded to destroy and loot everything in their way and beat up hapless workers.

Such behaviour is hard to understand, unless it is to be taken as a symptom of something far deeper troubling the student community.

If, indeed, they had been promised things that would have been impossible only three months ago, why then would they descend on a petrol station, a bank, an airline booking office, and a restaurant, and loot and pillage with such abandon?

The only explanation is that in the euphoria of a new government still finding its footing after a stunning electoral victory, the students were keen to test the Government's resolve. This is not only unfair, it is bound to be counter-productive.

On another front, it may become necessary for the Government to consider measures that will not only calm the restive spirits of the young men and women in our campuses, but also one that will prevent them destroying business premises and property. This is especially critical at a time when ways to jump-start the economy are being sought.

It might also be time to consider the previously unthinkable: Translocate the University of Nairobi and all its campuses from the city centre. This may appear, at first glance, to be too radical a measure, but it may eventually be the only way out of this problem.

Certainly, the past favourite pastime of police pummelling students with batons has proved to be a dismal failure. 

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