University of Nairobi students can breathe a sigh of relief after the institution initiated a formal process to lower accommodation fees following weeks of uproar.
The university administration, through a memo dated Wednesday, July 30 and signed by the institution's Director of Corporate Affairs, John Orindi, revealed that the UoN management had met and recommended the changes.
According to Orindi, the university management met on Tuesday, July 29, and adopted a report for review of hostel accommodation rates.
The recommendations are being processed for final approval by various governance organs of the university, with official communication set to be made on August 6 this year.
"We implore all students to understand that University decisions are guided by various policies and regulations, which must be adhered to," read part of the memo.
The latest announcement comes a fortnight after the UoN Students' Association submitted a petition to the Ministry of Education offices, demanding the immediate reduction of accommodation fees.
The students faulted the institution for reportedly increasing the accommodation fees from Ksh6,000 in 2021 to the current Ksh43,000, an amount they claimed was exorbitant.
While protesting the outrageous accommodation fees outside the Ministry offices at Jogoo House in Nairobi, the university student leaders called on the first-year students to delay reporting to the school until their grievances are addressed.
"We have tried to solve this issue, but the university administration has failed to heed our demand. We have now submitted a petition to the Education PS, and she promised that they are going to act on it," said the Chairperson of the UoN Council of Governors, Patrick Owino.
"Our expectation is very simple: by the time the first-year students are being admitted, the accommodation fee should have been reduced," he added.
Following the heated protest, the Ministry of Education came out and promised to address the matter. Addressing the press on July 22, Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala stated that the Ministry would convene a dialogue with student leaders to resolve the stalemate.
She revealed that past dialogues between student leaders and the government on matters of their well-being had always been fruitful.
