Multimedia University students block major road - protest over poor services

Operations along Ongata Rongai road were yesterday disrupted after university students took to the streets to protest at poor services.

Students from Multimedia University blocked a section of the road using electricity poles as others stoned vehicles to express their frustration.

Motorists were annoyed after the section of the road outside the university was rendered inaccessible by the protesting students. It took the intervention of the police for the demonstrations to be called off.

The students complained about lack of water, bedbug infestation, infighting between the school's leadership, and poor basic amenities.

The students' association president, Robinson Boit, complained at what he termed 'laxity of the administration' to tackle issues affecting students and urged Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to intervene.

"The few hostels we have do not have water and the mattresses are in a terrible condition. Parents are paying a lot of money but the university is not living up to standard," said Boit.

He claimed that fighting between the vice chancellor and the deputy vice chancellor had led to students' woes, with each party pointing fingers at the other and shifting blame. Boit took issue with the mass enrolment of students, which he said had been going on for the past year. He asked how the new students would be accommodated.

"A new faculty of social science was recently introduced and no structure or lecture halls have been put up. I am wondering where the students are going to learn," he added.

One student complained that the beds were infested with bugs and that the management had ignored students' concerns.

"These issues have been there and we have held many meetings with the administration but nothing ever changes. School fees keep increasing yet nothing changes," he said.

Other complaints included lack of internet access and 'an incompetent dean of students'. Efforts to reach the management to comment on the matter failed.