Kenyatta University closed indefinitely after students unrest

Kenyatta University has been closed indefinitely and students ordered to leave.

The closure of the university followed by a night of unrest on the main campus where students burnt the old admission block, allegedly protesting the newly elected student leaders.

KUSU

According to the students who spoke to Nation on Friday, the strike was to express their displeasure with new leadership of the Kenya University Students Association (Kusa), who were elected on Tuesday.

They alleged that the team had been “fronted” and “sponsored” by the university management and was thus unfit to represent the interests of the other students.

"We also did not want to sit for the exams that had been scheduled to start next week Monday because we felt we were not ready because most of the lecturers have been away due to the ongoing strike," said a student, who sought anonymity fearing victimisation.

According to the students, the university’s academic was disrupted by the industrial action called by Uasu.

DEMANDS

"We had not learnt enough to sit for the exams. Some students had already gone home after it was announced that lecturers had gone on strike. They even missed the continuous assessment tests," the student added.

A student official who spoke to the Nation said she was not aware of the cause of the strike.

"I went home after the results were announced because we were so tired. I later heard that the students were demonstrating. I cannot tell why."

The striking students have come up with what they are terming “irreducible minimums” they want the university management to meet.

DEATH

The demands include complete overhaul of the university’s top management, repeal of the University Amendment Act 2016 to abolish the electoral college in student union elections, review of university’s policies and student disciplinary procedures and abolishment of the supplementary fee, amongst others.

The university’s Director of Student Affairs Edwin Gimode said they were investigating the allegations that a student was killed at a local market during the unrest.

However, he appeared to dismiss the claim, saying the image that has been trending in social media could be fake and propaganda.

"We can neither confirm nor refute the claims. But what is factual is that no student was killed in campus," said Dr Gimode.

KU Public Relations Director Machua Koinange said the university’s board of management was holed up in a meeting at the main campus after which they would issue a statement.