Chaos were witnessed earlier this morning as students from Multimedia University in Kajiado County took to the streets to protest against the college’s administration and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The unexpected demonstration paralyzed traffic along Magadi Road, leaving motorists stranded and searching for alternative routes.
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The students’ grievances were clear: they accused the university of prematurely closing the student portal, preventing them from completing their registration for this semester’s classes.
Additionally, they expressed frustration over missing marks for the graduating class of 2023 and a significant delay in the disbursement of HELB funds for continuing students.
In response to the protest, the police resorted to using teargas to disperse the agitated students. Videos circulating on the X platform depicted students blocking the road, burning tires, and even scaling fences during the chaotic scenes.
Multimedia University is scheduled to hold its tenth graduation ceremony on Friday, October 27, but Tuesday’s protest disrupted the morning rush hour as students took to the streets to voice their concerns.
As of now, neither the university administration nor the protesting students have issued official statements explaining the cause of the strike. However, reports from various students suggest that their primary demand is the immediate release of funds by HELB, which is essential for their education and basic needs. Some students also claim that they are grappling with issues related to missing academic marks.
Local authorities arrived at the scene to contain the situation as hundreds of students blocked the road, hurled rocks, and set bonfires, causing further chaos along the busy stretch.
This sudden strike comes at a time when Babu Owino, the Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, publicly called on HELB to expedite the disbursement of funds to students. In a video statement on his social media, MP Owino expressed deep concern over the financial hardship faced by students due to the delayed disbursement.
Either resign or hold demonstrations – Babu Owino to student leaders pic.twitter.com/D3bfQge930
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) September 29, 2023
“Comrades are very hungry and angry at the same time. Students cannot go to class because HELB has not been released, hence they cannot pay fees,” Owino declared, emphasizing the dire circumstances. “Students cannot buy food, they cannot afford accommodation, and they cannot get money for transport.”
Owino directed his appeal to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Ndung’u, urging swift collaboration with HELB to ensure the immediate release of funds. “Move with speed and release money to comrades in various universities. HELB must never delay. This money is very little and it is never sufficient, and furthermore, you are delaying it,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Owino called upon student leaders across the country to rally for the release of these funds. “Student leaders, you are sleeping. You are wasting the constituents who elected you. You must wake up, you must come out, you must call for demonstrations,” he urged.
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While advocating for peaceful protests, Owino cautioned against damaging public or school property during demonstrations. “Never destroy school property, never destroy any property of the public. Just hold peaceful demonstrations and let it be on a daily basis,” he advised.
