Chaos erupted on Tuesday after police officers clashed with students from the Technical University of Nairobi during protests over the institution's closure.
The students who marched from TUK grounds along Haille Sellasie Avenue to the Ministry of Education headquarters located at Jogoo House in Nairobi were met with quite an unfamiliar response from the officers who were waiting for them.
Tear gas filled the air as running battles ensued between law enforcement officers who were armed with clubs and canisters and the demonstrators.
According to the students, they were marching to petition the Ministry of Education to order the reopening of the school following a recent wave of staff and student protests that prompted its closure.
This was not the first demonstration as the students had on Wednesday, February 19, stormed their Vice-Chancellor’s office and the Education Ministry offices demanding the immediate reopening of the institution that was closed on February 3.
The University Senate had ordered the indefinite closure of TUK following a strike by staff over delayed salaries.
Following the closure, the university ordered all students to vacate the campus residences, leaving them uncertain about their future.
Even as the standoff continued, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Friday promised that his ministry was working around the clock to ensure normalcy returns.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, CS Ogamba revealed that the Ministry was working on a sustainable solution to ensure that once the issue is resolved, it does not recur in the future.
Among the issues that Ogamba promised to look into were issues related to unpaid salaries that the University Academic and Stuff Union(UASU) had blamed the university for failing to act on.
He further revealed that the Ministry had established a special team to investigate the issues affecting TUK and ensure the grievances were addressed.
"Regarding TUK, where there are issues related to resources and unpaid salaries, we are working to secure the necessary funds for disbursement. Additionally, I will be meeting with the unions next week to ensure we find a sustainable solution to the challenges facing the university," Ogamba noted.
