Students of University of Nairobi have planned a mass demonstration on Monday September 20, 2021 due to the increased tuition and accommodation fees.
Through a memo, University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) announced that students from all its campuses will participate in the demonstrations.
According to the memo that was signed by UNSA secretary General Kikwai Nathan Kiplangat, the students’ body and the university’s administration failed to come to a consensus regarding the fee increment.
“There will be mass demonstrations in all University of Nairobi Campuses beginning from Monday 20th September 2021,” read the memo by UNSA.
“Deliberations with the University of Nairobi administration on the increment of both school fees and accommodation fees have collapsed,” the statement goes on.
The memo also warned first years against reporting to the institution on the said date.
“In that regard, all first-year parents and students who are to report to the University on that date (September 20) are advised not to report to the University,” the memo stated.
UON increased tuition fees of some of the courses offered in July as one way of dealing with the financial crisis after the shortfall of students’ enrollment.
It has been revealed that some of the postgraduate courses had their fees doubled in the new fees structure. For example Masters degree for Communication that runs for two years had its fees raised from Ksh275,000 to over Ksh600,000.
Fees for degree courses like law, bachelor of commerce and economics under the self-sponsored program have been raised to about Ksh1 million.
UON’s demonstration announcement comes days after Multimedia University closed indefinitely after students went on a rampage.
An internal memo noted that the students became unruly and attempted to interfere with motorists along Magadi Road, leading to the decision by the University management.
“By a copy of this memo, all affected students must clear from the university compound immediately but not later than 6 pm today 15th September 2021,” part of the memo read.
RELATED STORY: More Trouble For Kenyatta University As KRA Freezes Its Bank Accounts
