This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
On October 7, 2019, Kenyatta University was brought to a standstill as students, led by the Kenyatta University Students Association (Kusa) president Joshua Ayika, protested against the administration.
The protest, which started at 10am, turned chaotic as students disrupted classes and engaged in running battles with the police.
According to reports, Ayika had mobilized students at the university's shopping center, where he addressed them over a range of complaints against the administration, before leading them in disrupting classes.
However, it appeared there were sharp divisions within the student leadership, with Ayika being the only Kusa official who addressed the students.
The students blocked the busy Thika Superhighway, prompting the police to respond with teargas to disperse the angry students.
Despite the administration's efforts to avert the crisis, the situation only got worse, with students and the administration left wondering what would happen next.
The university's student leadership had called for peaceful demonstrations and boycott of classes over a litany of accusations against the institution's management, including the alleged refusal to extend fee payment and the suspension of students on petty basis.
However, the circulated memo did not have the signature of Kusa secretary general, Fred Changulo, who later sent out another memo asking students to ignore the calls for protests.
