Ministry Scrambles to Calm UoN Students as Protest Storm Brews Over Hiked Accommodation Fees
Tension is rising as the University of Nairobi (UoN) students issue a stern warning to the University of Nairobi (UoNover what they term as exorbitant accommodation fees. The ministry now seeks urgent dialogue to avert a looming crisis.
On Monday, July 21, hundreds of furious students stormed Jogoo House in Nairobi. Their demands? A swift review of the university’s accommodation charges, which have ballooned from Ksh 6,000 in 2021 to a staggering Ksh 43,000 in 2024.
The streets echoed with chants and banners, as students called on the ministry to intervene before the situation explodes into full-blown unrest.
Speaking shortly after receiving the petition, Principal Secretary for Education pleaded for calm.
“We want to encourage the students to come to the table,” she said.
“Our experience has been that when we bring the student leaders to the table, we always resolve these issues very amicably.”
However, student leaders insist they’ve been down this road before — with no results. The Chairperson of the UoN Council of Governors, Patrick Owino, didn’t mince his words.
“We have tried to solve this issue, but the university administration has failed to heed our demand,” Owino declared.
“We have now submitted a petition to the Education PS and she promised that they are going to act on it.”
The protest wasn’t just a show of frustration — it was also a warning shot. The students vowed not to relent until justice is served.
“Our expectation is very simple: by the time the first years are being admitted, the accommodation fee should have been reduced,” Owino added.
Adding fuel to the fire, student leaders urged incoming first-years to boycott admission if the demands remain unmet. The rallying cry is loud, clear, and gaining momentum.
The ministry, caught off-guard by the magnitude of the protest, has promised swift engagement. A series of sit-down meetings between officials and student leaders is expected in the coming week. But for many students, hope is wearing thin.
This issue underscores deeper frustrations in Kenya’s public universities — skyrocketing costs, poor communication, and systemic neglect.
Unless the Ministry acts fast, this storm may be just beginning.
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Ministry Scrambles to Calm UoN Students as Protest Storm Brews Over Hiked Accommodation Fees
