Kabianga University closed indefinitely after student unrest

University of Kabianga's (UoK) students stage a protest. The main campus was closed indefinitely for second, third, and fourth-year students following the students' unrest over Sh10,000 fee increment. 

University of Kabianga's main campus has been closed indefinitely following student unrest.

The Second, Third and Fourth-year students were protesting over the Sh10,000 fee increment.

University deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs) Elijah Omwenga announced the closure this afternoon through an internal memo.

He said the decision was made by the senate after a special meeting to deliberate on the prevailing circumstances involving student protests.

“The students are requested to vacate premises immediately,” the letter reads.

Tony Misinga, a student, claimed that the school fees hike was a surprise to them.

"We just woke only to find that the university had increased the school fees, which it said we must pay. We are not going to register for our units until the matter is addressed," he said.

Another student Sylvia Nyakundi said the university management had resorted to intimidation in addressing issues affecting students.

"Instead of providing us answers, the management responds with the closure of the university, claiming that we have destroyed property at the institution. We have not. We held a peaceful demonstration," she said.

But the university public relations and communication officer Nicholas Langat claimed that contrary to the students' claims, they had communicated about the fee increment through the students' leaders, who are their representatives in the senate.

"The position of the university is that the students were adequately informed of the fee increment," he said.

The students' grievances also included congestion at the school library, lack of student IDs, despite allegedly paying a fee of Sh500.

"The students centre is also in a dilapidated state, and the food is horrible," said Misinga.

But Langat termed the grievances premature.

"If it is the case of a library, a state-of-the-art library is currently under construction. The students centre has also been completed, and we are just waiting for the contractor to hand it over to the university administration."

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