Multimedia University students protest over 'missing marks'

By Peter Ochieng

Multimedia University students on Tuesday took to the streets against a range of grievances, including claims of missing marks ahead of graduation set for end of this month.

The students barricaded Magadi road in Kajiado County, as they engaged police in running battles.

Photos and videos seen by Nairobi Review showed some of them lighting bonfires, even as they chanted in unison.

"Bado mapambano (the struggle continues)," they chanted. "Comrades power! Comrades tibim! Comrades riaaaah!"

The students are reportedly protesting against missing marks ahead of the 27th October, 2023 graduation, lack of water and poor sanitation in the institution.

Additionally, they are allegedly not happy with delay in disbursement of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds.

Last week, Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino accused the current crop of student leaders of keeping mum as comrades experience tough times due to the delay in HELB disbursement.

Owino, former University of Nairobi student leader urged them to lead demonstrations until the money is disbursed.

"I want to urge all student leaders in the country, do not sleep. Student leaders, you are sleeping. You are wasting the constituents who elected you. Instead of representing them, you are misrepresenting them. You must wake up, you must come out and call for demonstrations. Let HELB not delay even by one minute. The moment HELB delays there is a lot that goes on in the lives of students," said the vocal legislature.

"Student leaders wake up. There's nothing you are doing in those offices. HELB must never delay and school fees must never increase... you must call for demonstrations as soon as possible but you must never destroy university property or any public property. Just hold peaceful demonstrations on a daily basis," he added.

The MP noted that by not releasing funds on time, the government is paralysing student's operations.