Anxiety and uncertainty have gripped students across universities after institutions were forced to postpone examinations following major transport disruptions caused by ongoing fuel-hike protests that paralyzed movement in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
The demos by transport operators disrupted transportation services across the city on Monday, limiting movement.
The industrial action left many families stranded as matatus, school buses, motorcycle taxis, and ride-hailing services stayed off the roads in protest against recent fuel price hikes announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Among the universities affected were the University of Nairobi (UoN) and the Technical University of Kenya (TU-K), which canceled examinations scheduled for Monday, May 18.
Kenyan Universities UoN and TUK Postpone Exams as Fuel Hike Protests Disrupt Transport
At the UoN , the Faculty of Education announced that all examinations scheduled for the day had been postponed, adding that revised schedules would be communicated later through official university channels.
“Please note that all Faculty of Education examinations scheduled for today, May 18, 2026, have been postponed. Revised schedules will be communicated shortly. Please check your student portal and official emails for updates,” reads the notice.
The Technical University of Kenya has rescheduled examinations scheduled for Monday following widespread road barricades that disrupted movement in several parts of the country.
Also Read: Schools Shut Down Over Fears of Nationwide Transport Strike Chaos
In a notice issued by the University Academic Registrar, TUK stated that it had rescheduled its End-of-Semester Two examinations for the 2025/2026 academic year following a Special Senate Meeting held on Monday evening.
“This is to notify all students and staff that the End-of-Semester 2 Examinations for the 2025/2026 Academic Year, originally scheduled to run from 18th May, 2026 to 30th May, 2026, have been rescheduled to run from 25th May, 2026 to 9th June, 2026,” read the notice in part.
“This decision was made during the second Special Senate Meeting held on 18th May, 2026 at 7:45 p.m., convened in response to the ongoing matatu strike, which has disrupted the movement of students and staff.”
The university said it regrets any inconvenience caused and appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students and staff.
For inquiries, students were advised to contact the registrar at [email protected].
Also Read: EPRA Announces New Fuel Prices After Countrywide Protests
Roads Closed as Protests Intensify
Major roads in Nairobi and other towns were blocked by demonstrators, causing transport paralysis and forcing many learning institutions and businesses to suspend operations.
The protests, linked to the rising cost of fuel and transport, disrupted traffic along major Nairobi roads, including Thika Superhighway, Jogoo Road, Waiyaki Way, and Mombasa Road, where demonstrators barricaded sections using stones, burning tyres and debris.
Other roads were turned into temporary football pitches by demonstrators on Monday morning.
The transport disruption forced many commuters to walk long distances as matatu operations remained limited across several routes in Nairobi.
Several private schools announced the suspension of learning, citing safety concerns and uncertainty in transport operations.
In public schools, students were sent home after parents received text messages from their respective schools, asking them to pick up their children and not send them to school due to safety concerns.
