This archive report was first published on 7 October 2019.
Kenyatta University Students Protest, Disrupt Classes Amid Rising Fees ¶
Students at Kenyatta University in Kenya protested against rising fees, disrupting classes and causing a traffic jam on Thika Superhighway on October 7, 2019.
The protest, led by Joshua Ayika, the chairman of the Kenyatta University Students Association (KUSA), began at 4:00 a.m. when Ayika addressed the students, criticizing the university's leadership before urging them to disrupt classes.
Police were forced to intervene and clash with the students, before eventually leaving and closing the Thika Superhighway.
Despite the disruption, the students did not damage any property, and the university's leadership was criticized for not being able to control the situation.
It emerged that Ayika had informed the students about the planned protest over the weekend, urging them to boycott classes to protest the rising fees.
The students were protesting the increase in fees from KSh 3,500 to KSh 6,000 without being informed or provided with new student identification cards after paying the fees.
However, the university's administration denied the allegations, with the deputy vice-chancellor, Fred Changulo, urging the students to ignore the protest.
Interestingly, Ayika had instructed the students to wear shoes that would help them run away quickly in case of a confrontation with the police.
The university's administration quickly intervened to resolve the issue by providing information about the students' needs.
The university's administration stated that the fee increase had been delayed and that the issues raised by the students had already been addressed.
