1,000 trainee teachers protest over fee increase

More than 1,000 students of Kagumo Teachers Training College on Thursday held a demonstration protesting against an increase in fees.

Holding placards and branches, they marched along the busy Nyeri-Karatina highway and caused a major traffic jam.

“We want the administration to assure us that the fees will be brought down and that we get better services or else no learning will continue,” said one of the students who requested not to be named for fear of being victimised.

The students claimed the administration had increased the school fees by Sh9,000, making the institution unaffordable.

Corruption

They called for the resignation of a senior tutor, accusing him of corruption.

They also accused the college management of high handedness by denying them a chance to air their grievances. The students complained further of poor diet and lack of running water at the institution.

The police had a hard time trying to block the students from leaving the college, but they convinced the officers that they would hold a peaceful demonstration.

The students later returned to the college after the Nyeri Central district commissioner, Mr Michael Mwangi, assured them that their grievances would be addressed.