Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) has been indefinitely closed after students went on rampage against the university administration’s increasing hostel fees.
The demonstrators barricaded Thika road to protest what they say was an arbitrary increase of hostel fees from Sh3,900 to Sh6,500 shillings within two semesters.
“How can the hostel fee be increased within two semesters without notice? Now we cannot even sit for a mere CAT without an exam card which is hectic to get,” said the students.
According to the students, they also were not happy with the vice chancellor Prof Mabel Imbuga’s directive that no student was to sit for the Continuous Assessment Test (CAT) on Monday without an examination card. The protesters said the requirement was new as it has never happened before. The students also complained that the cards take a long process to be issued.
The students added that on Monday they will not be attending classes if they have not cleared their fee balance which they term as petty and a high school affair.
“If Dedan Kimathi University can afford to have biometric system at their gate for identification, why not JKUAT?” wondered the students
The enraged students have demolished a tack shop and various hostels in the school and even gone further to barricade Thika Road affecting transport on the busy highway.
This morning, the students were given an hour to clear from the campus and police are at the scene trying to control the students.