Covid-19 rules take the fun out of graduations 

It’s a treasured ceremony, a celebration of academic achievement with family and friends, but it too hasn’t been spared by the Covid-19 pandemic.

And with the rules against crowded gatherings, it feels like some shine has been taken off the cheery function, making it hollow and empty.

Welcome to virtual graduation ceremonies. No more ferrying villagers in buses to colleges.  

After months of uncertainties, announcements flooded in: Mount Kenya University (MKU), Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the University of Nairobi, Kabarak

University, Multimedia University and others would all host virtual graduation events.

And degrees would be conferred on the graduating class by video link - for the second time in a row.

Traditionally, this event would have attracted masses. While they're carefully planned, from the seating to the staging, that is what most graduates missed.

But this year graduates have one thing in common - virtual ceremonies. Some were delighted while many more were disappointed.

“I have not felt like a graduate yet. I feel like I did not maximise my four years well. If given another chance to do it the normal way I will do it,” said Ms Sasha Idebe, an MKU graduate.

Graduation ceremony

“I was at home, watching the graduation ceremony going on with my family. I was in my pyjamas. I thought it was going to be a joyous day but it turned out to be just a normal day to me.”

For some, it did not feel like a graduation ceremony without family cheering them from a crowd when the school chancellor called out their names.

Elijah Githugo graduated with a degree in applied physics and computer science from Multimedia University.

“It felt different. The excitement was there but physically there was nothing to match it,” he said.

“I personally was at work but I had my gown in my bag. My office mates celebrated when they heard my name and saw my picture on the screen.”

But unlike many others, Linda Makhapila, who graduated with a degree in microbiology from JKUAT, thought the virtual graduation had its good and bad aspects.

“It was good because it did not involve many people. Not until you post it by yourself will you know that you have really graduated, and I avoided so many questions like, ‘What did you graduate with?’” she said.

“At the same time, it was a bad experience because graduation is always a hyped ceremony. Family members travel just to come and celebrate your achievement, but the virtual one limited their participation, and they are away upcountry and cannot sit and watch something on TV. 

“And it did not have the deep feeling associated with celebrations held physically.”

Restricted public gatherings

Roselyn Wangechi, a UoN graduate, was not bothered when she heard that her school would host a virtual ceremony.

“I have always considered myself an introvert. I was happy when they announced the graduation will be online, because I would graduate in the comfort of my home sipping my coffee in peace,” she said.

“I always find physical crowds a bit hectic, and with the whole insane traffic just to attend a two-hour ceremony, and they might not even call your name, I gladly followed the proceedings on TV.”
Gregory Muleli, a graduate in microbiology from JKUAT, said the virtual graduation was well planned.

“The most important thing was being on the graduation list, being allowed to have gowns that we had paid for, and at least take pictures while wearing them for memories,” he said. 

“A normal graduation would allow family members to come and celebrate with you and it would have cost a lot of money. My family watched the ceremony at home and that was cheaper.”

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the government restricted public gatherings to curb the spread of the respiratory disease.

Shiphrah Diana, who graduated from Kabarak University, was pleased that there were no physical graduation gatherings.

“I liked it. I didn’t have to worry who was next to me, because you never know who is next to you. I watched it with my family and that’s it,” she said.

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