Transport along the Narok-Bomet highway was paralyzed yesterday after students from the Maasai Mara University took to the streets to demonstrate against the introduction of long holidays in the school calendar.
The students burnt tires and barricaded the roads for hours, bringing the town to a standstill.
They complained that the move by the school’s administration to force them to break for the long holiday goes against their wishes.
Twitter feeds on the strike, however, showed that the students were also demonstrating about the delay in the disbursements of HELB loans.
Business premises had to be closed after some students raided kiosks and looted goods of unknown value.
The strike comes in the wake of other strikes by several schools.
Students from the University of Eldoret recently went on a rampage, destroying property on their third strike of the year.
The students claimed the school had increased school fees.
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Their counterparts in Moi University, Main campus had to be sent home after riots erupted following students elections.
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Maseno University students protested over the delay of HELB loans just before sitting their end of semester exams four months ago.
University of Nairobi students have on more than one occasion taken to the streets to protest over the same thing.
Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi recently termed the increasing rates in strikes by campuses as worrying.
Citizen Digital reports that Kaimenyi told students to find alternative ways of addressing their grievances.
Speaking in Nairobi, Kaimenyi added that strikes result in unnecessary loss of property which impairs the development and progress of both the institution and learners.
Maasai Mara university on the road @RobertAlai @C_NyaKundiH pic.twitter.com/ctIAlO8FCu
— Biwott jnr (@sabby254) July 27, 2015
Maasai Mara University students demonstrating.. Reason HELB
— BadBoy (@UpcomingMzito) July 27, 2015
