Tear Gas as UoN Students Protest
On Wednesday, September 3, the police had to resort to using tear gas to break up a crowd of students from the University of Nairobi (UoN) who were protesting.
The demonstration started off peacefully, with a sizable group gathering and chanting near the main campus along University Way.
Students took to the streets to protest the delays in their exam results and the missing marks. They blocked a busy road with stones and set bonfires, which led to a significant traffic jam.
A video captured the scene, showing students marching and chanting as they voiced their frustrations about how the institution was handling the examination results. However, things took a turn when the police showed up.
According to various reports, the police had to resort to using tear gas to break up the protests. In response, some students began throwing stones at the officers, resulting in a tense standoff between the two sides.
These students are from the medical school at the University of Nairobi. They’re claiming that their grades are being held back and that some of their marks are missing.
This, they say, has prevented them from continuing with their studies.
“We are here today to demonstrate peacefully, but we have been brought rioting officers. We are here because we sat for our exams in April, and up to now, in September, we have not had results. Graduation is in two weeks, and we do not have results. We cannot apply or stay in these rooms because we do not have results,” Emmanuel Keboi Oribo, Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) Faculty of Health Sciences, said during the protests.
Keboi mentioned that the strike will continue until the school hands over their results. They’ve also put a halt to all university activities until everyone gets their results.
As of now, the authorities haven’t made any comments regarding the situation.
The strike occurred just a few weeks after the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) announced on August 2nd that they were putting a temporary hold on a strike that was originally set for Monday, August 4, 2025.
This decision came after an internal memo from the university administration, which revealed that they had met and approved a report to reassess the students’ accommodation fees.
“No strike on Monday! Instead, we are marching this Wednesday to collect the new hostel accommodation rates. Join us in making our voices heard,” read part of the students’ notice.
