Amid the ongoing wave of strikes and disruption of learning in institutions of higher learning around the country, Karatina University has been closed indefinitely.
Karatina university has been closed following demonstrations by students who were protesting alleged exploitation by landlords who they accused of continuously raising rental fees in the areas surrounding the university.
The learners while protesting faulted the school administration for failing to intervene in the matter despite several attempts to compel the institution into action.
These protests, which escalated into unrest, prompted the university administration to suspend all academic activities for the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year.
Karatina University‘s administration in an official statement seen by The Kenya Times announced the immediate closure of the institution, citing concerns for the safety and well-being of students.
The university administration instructed all students to vacate the premises by 3 p.m. effective immediately.
“The first semester of the 2024/25 academic year activities is suspended effective today, Wednesday, 25th September 2024,” read part of the statement.
Further, those residing in the university’s halls of residence were also ordered to leave by the same deadline.
Karatina University Closed
Students living off-campus in the neighborhoods surrounding the university on the other hand were advised to seek alternative accommodation until the situation normalizes.
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This directive comes following protests by students against continuous rental fees’ hike, which the students claim has been simmering for some time.
Students earlier engaged police in running battles as they protested what students they described as continuous and unreasonable rent hikes by landlords which they lamented has made accommodation unaffordable for many.
The university’s administration announced that Re-opening dates will be communicated in due course.
This incident comes days after third year students of Rongo University were asked to vacate the institution’s premises following a senate meeting held on Thursday, September 19.
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The administration made the decision following reports of unrest among the third-year students, according to a notice.
Rongo University closed
Their decision was also arrived at to ensure safety of university property, other students, staff and community.
“To all third-year students, Senate at a meeting held on Thursday, 19th September 2024 resolved that due to disturbances in the University in the last 24 hours, all Third-Year students are directed to vacate the University premises with immediate effect for the safety of University property, other students, staff and community,” the notice read in part.
It was reported that the cause of unrest among the students was attributed to increment in school fees.
According to a source close to Rongo University who spoke to The Kenya Times, the third-year students reported to the institution from long holiday break only to find out that their school fees had been increased from Ksh22,000 to Ksh36,000 which caused rage among the students.
Vice Chancellor Professor Samuel Gudu following discontentment among the students held a meeting with the learners to try and explain why their fees was increased.
However, the students failed to reach agreement with the VC prompting the administration to suspend the students out of caution.
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