- They lit bonfires and disrupted traffic demanding that principal Patrick Muchemi steps down.
- In a memo, Muchemi announced the closure of the institution for an unknown period of time.
The Kabete National Polytechnic in Kikuyu constituency has been closed indefinitely following daylong student protests.
The students went on the rampage protesting against the alleged hike of school fees and accommodation charges by the school management.
They lit bonfires and disrupted traffic, demanding that principal Patrick Muchemi step down.
In a memo, Muchemi announced the closure of the institution for an unknown period.
“This is to inform you that the Polytechnic has been closed indefinitely. You are required to vacate the Polytechnic with immediate effect,” reads the notice to the students.
The students decried what they said was a lack of concern from the management, saying they felt their outcry over the rising cost of education was not being heard.
They said hostel fees have gone up from Sh5,000 to Sh8,000, forcing them to seek accommodation outside the institution.
On exam fees, the students claimed they have been ordered to part with between Sh1,000 and Sh5,000 per paper and an extra Sh2,000 for practicals.
“They are saying those of us with examination fee arrears will not be able to sit the exam,” a student said.
They said this is against a circular from the Ministry of Education, which indicated that term fees are inclusive of examination costs.
Miles away in Ongata Rongai, students at the Multimedia University also held protests for the better part of the day, protesting against what they said was poor sanitation borne by a perennial lack of water.
They barricaded Magadi Road, forcing motorists to seek other routes amid claims of police brutality.