Students at the Nairobi Technical Training Institute (NTTI) on Wednesday staged demonstrations following the arrest of more than 100 learners by police officers from the Pangani Police Station.
While demonstrating outside the school premises, the students blocked several roads that led to Nairobi’s suburbs. The demonstrators paralysed transport along the highways forcing motorists to look for alternative routes.
Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed the students hoisting twigs and placards as they marched towards the Pangani police station to demand the release of their fellow learners. The furious learners accused the officers of unwarranted, and arresting them despite holding peaceful protests.
As the demonstrations escalated, a section of parents joined the protest after receiving information about the arrest of their kids. “The children were arrested and we did not know about such, so when we arrived at the school the administration refused to cooperate,” narrated one of the parents.
“We have gone to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) but they asked us to come back to school when we approached the institution's principal he declined to help us, claiming that he was not informed about such an incident,” commented another parent.
However, after hours of protesting the arrests, the officials from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) led by Faith Odhiambo intervened and secured the release of all the arrested students. According to Odhiambo, 101 students were released for free while another 6 were released on a cash bail of Ksh10,000 each.
"Our team led by Ian Mutiso represented the students of the Nairobi Technical College who were arrested during yesterday's strike. 102 of them have been released from custody, while another 6 were released on a cash bail of Ksh10,000," LSK boss Faith Odhiambo noted.
According to one of the students who spoke to the press, the students were arrested on Tuesday at noon after protesting against the school administration.
The students protested the institution's decision to hike school fees days before the examinations. The learners while lamenting, faulted the school principal for denying them the chance to sit for their examinations.
“I am not able to do an exam because I have been locked out, my parents are not stable financially to raise the needed amount of money. I wonder when I will sit for my exams,” lamented one of the students.
During the protests, the students called for immediate engagement between the school administration and parents to ensure that no student was denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations.
The protest by the college students adds to the number of demonstrations witnessed across the country in recent weeks. The latest incident follows a similar one witnessed at Moi University a fortnight ago.
