UoN medical students protest over delayed results as new academic year looms

Students at the University of Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital Campus Protest. [File, Standard]

Students at the University of Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital Campus on Tuesday protested over delayed examination results, just days before the institution reopens for the September intake.

The protest involves all year groups under the Faculty of Health Sciences, which houses the Departments of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Surgery and Medical Laboratory Sciences.

For two months now, results have not been released, leaving students uncertain about whether they will progress, repeat or sit for supplementary exams.

The delay has caused anxiety and disrupted academic planning, particularly for those on scholarships and sponsorships that require transcripts.

"This is cruel and oppressive. Our comrades are anxious and frustrated. We have decided to shut down the whole faculty until we get our results," said Mohammed Farah, Secretary General of the University of Nairobi Students Association, Faculty of Health Sciences (UNSA FHS).

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The standoff stems from a stalemate between the university administration and lecturers, who have reportedly withheld results due to unpaid dues.

Students argue that they have met their obligations by paying fees and sitting exams, and should not be used as bargaining tools.

Wasike Elisha, Secretary General of the UNSA Council, described the situation as dire.

"We cannot resume school if we don't know whether we are progressing to the next level or retaking exams. Some of our colleagues have already missed out on scholarships and internship opportunities because of delayed transcripts," he said.

Elisha added that the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs had acknowledged the issue in earlier communications.

According to him, the officials attributed the delay to unresolved engagements between the administration and lecturers, but assured students that results would eventually be released.

The students say the situation is also taking a heavy toll on mental health. "For the past one year, we have recorded 11 suicide cases in the faculty. Withholding results only worsens the crisis," Elisha added.

The protest has seen offices within the faculty closed, with students threatening to extend the shutdown if the issue remains unresolved. They have also called on the Ministry of Education and the university council to intervene.

"Students are not going to be used as leverage between the lecturers and the administration," Elisha said. "It is either our results are released, or we shut down the faculty. If not, we will hit the highway."

With the new cohort of first-year students set to join on 1st September, uncertainty looms over whether the academic calendar will proceed as planned. For now, the fate of thousands of medical students remains tied to a standoff beyond their control.