UoN, Maseno Students Hold Protests Over Fees

A heavy contigent of anti riot police has been deployed along all roads leading to and out of the campus to stop the demos.

The students have on the other hand blocked sections of Uhuru Highway, University Highway and others.

Earlier, police were forced to use tear gas canisters to disperse the students who were marching along parliament and Jeevanjee gardens.

The students called for demos to protest the planned increment of tuition fees terming it an infringement of their rights.

Student leaders led by Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) chairman Babu Owino said the nationwide demonstrations by students from the seven public universities, will continue until their grievances are addressed.

The leaders further cautioned members of the public against using certain roads among them University Way, Nairobi CBD, Moi Avenue, Parklands, Kikuyu road and Thika Super Highway.

The students' leaders maintained that their demos would be peaceful but cautioned that some people may take advantage of the situation to loot.

But the students appear divided with those from Kenyatta University saying they will not take part in the demos.

The Ministry of Education has however denied claims that there are plans to increase the fees.

A statement from the Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi says such an increment can not take place without consultations with all stakeholders.

According to the statement, a fee increment must be initiated by University Councils, deliberated upon through a consultative process which should involve stakeholders and approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Education.

Key stakeholders in this process include Parliament, Senate, Commission for University Education, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service Board, University Students’ leadership.

By Wangui Ngechu