Kisumu Polytechnic students go on the rampage
Learning was paralysed at the Kisumu National Polytechnic after students went on the rampage over unresolved grievances.
For the better part of Monday morning the institution was a no-go zone as the police engaged students in running battles.
The anti-riot police officers confronted the irate students around the Moi Stadium and used teargas canisters to disperse them.
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The unruly students barricaded roads nearby the institution paralyzing transport before police dispersed them.
The riots began following a notice by student leaders asking their colleagues to keep off classes.
In the notice signed by Kisumu National Polytechnic Student Association (KINOPSA) Secretary General Amos Oduor and Chairman Joseph Mbaka, they resolved to hold a strike after the administration reportedly failed to respond to their concerns.
Irregular suspensions
The students went on strike citing issues among them alleged fees increment and irregular suspensions by the administration.
They also demanded that the deputy principal vacate, accusing him of abusing his office by frustrating students.
Mbaka claimed the fee has been increased by a margin of Sh6, 000 from the normal Sh26, 420 paid by the students per year.
He said the administration holds that the additional funds are for practical exams, which the students end up not sitting for.
According to Mbaka, over 50 students are out on suspension, which was unprocedurally done by the administration.
“The administration has been adamant in responding to our concerns so we opted to go on strike to air out our grievances. We want sanity to prevail in the institution,” he said.
“The administration decided to deliberately hike fees on the students which is the centre of our protest,” added Mbaka.
Efforts to get a comment from the principal were futile.
