Drama as Daystar University students boycott classes

Learning at Daystar University was paralysed on Thursday after students took to the streets to demonstrate against what they term as an unjust administration.

The walk out at both of the varisty’s Athi River and Nairobi campuses followed growing frustration among students who claim that the administration was refusing to respond to their grievances amid poor state of facilities and a tuition fee hike.

The students are also calling for the resignation of the Vice Chancellor.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on phone, Nairobi Campus student leader Aloys Otieno said that the walk out was aimed at raising awareness about the state of the university.

“We are demonstrating here (Nairobi) and in Athi River because a few people must go. A lot of money is being embezzled and there is a problem that needs to be addressed. School fees is being raised with no justifiable reasons and the Vice Chancellor has refused to dialogue with us for many months,” said Mr. Otieno.

A leaflet handed out to students lists nine demands that include; misuse of funds, culture of fear and complaints going unaddressed.

The university, through the Corporate Affairs office confirmed the walk out. “The boycott is on and students are not going to class but the school administration is addressing the complaints that the students are raising.”

Students at the university said that learning was disrupted on Thursday at the Athi River campus after the student leadership issued notice for a “silent protest”. They were directed to congregate at one area of the campus, with the understanding that class attendance would not be taken.

Citizen Digital has learnt that the demonstrations materialised within a matter of hours after university administrators failed to attend a student baraza that was planned by the student leadership on Wednesday.

The students then took to Twitter to protest against the school’s facilities, with most of the students in the Communication department decrying lack of adequate cameras and demanding a TV studio.

Reports are emerging that last night, student leaders from both campuses were involved in a meeting from 10pm that went past midnight to discuss the way forward.

“We will convene all students from both campuses tomorrow at a specific time. We are not given justice, we take it,” ordered the leaders via email.

On Thursday morning, the student leaders said on their official twitter account that their email accounts had been disabled.

Today morning our official email address dusaathiriver@daystar.ac.ke was disabled.This is what happens when we speak the truth? #daystaruniversityrot #daystarlivesmatter @KarwithaKirimi @Mc_Cepha @InvoNewspaper @SHINEFM103 @oragah_angote @Politicsavenue @DCF_Athi @DaystarReunion pic.twitter.com/MJIN53epuz

— D.U.S.A (@DusaAthiRiver) November 16, 2017