Karatina University closed indefinitely

By Peter Ochieng

Karatina University in Neri County has been closed indefinitely.

The management took the move, after students protested over what they termed as increase of rent by landlords and matatus operating along the Karatina – Kagochi route.

The management in a statement ordered all the students residing in the institution to immediately vacate the premises.

“The University Senate in a Special meeting held today, Wednesday, 25th September 2024 resolved to suspend the 1st Semester of 2024/2025 Academic Year activities following students’ demonstrations outside the University (Gitunduti and One Kilometer area),” reads the statement.

"All students should vacate the University premises with immediate effect,” the management stated. The students had engaged anti-riot police officers in day-long running battles.

Mathira East Deputy County Commissioner Debora Mwania, said the students had complained that landlords were overcharging them, with a bedsitter going for more than Sh8,000 per month instead of Sh4,000.

The students further complained that most of the rooms were in bad state and lacked basic amenities. The administrator added that the matatu operators were also overcharging them, and that they were demanding from them Sh200 instead of Sh60 for the 6 kilometres trip from Karatina town.

Re-opening dates, the management said, will be communicated in due course.

Karatina University is situated 15km North of Karatina town, offering education that is in tandem with the needs and aspirations of the global village.

The institution started in 2007 as Mount Kenya Campus of Moi University. The University has six academic schools namely: Agriculture and Biotechnology; Business; Education and Social Sciences; Natural Resources and Environmental Studies; Nursing; Pure and Applied Sciences.