UoN Students Threaten Shutdown Over Skyrocketing Hostel Fees
Rusana lashed out at the university administration over the deteriorating condition of student hostels, describing them as “unfit for human habitation.”
The University of Nairobi. Photo/ Kenya Times.
By Victor Vosoro
The University of Nairobi is staring at a potential shutdown after student leaders issued a stern ultimatum demanding a drastic reduction in accommodation fees.
The University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) is protesting what it describes as a “crippling and unjustifiable hike” in hostel fees, which have reportedly ballooned from Sh6,000 in 2021 to a staggering Sh43,000 in 2025.
“Accommodation fees must be reduced. If not, we’ll close the university and block the CBD,” UNSA president Troy Rusana warned during a press conference held at the main campus.
Rusana lashed out at the university administration over the deteriorating condition of student hostels, describing them as “unfit for human habitation.”
“We’re suffering and have nowhere to stay. We won’t allow first-year students to be admitted under these conditions,” he added.
In a rare move, UNSA is advising incoming students to delay reporting to campus. The union has asked new students not to download admission letters or make travel plans until the matter is resolved.
“Don’t come into a broken system with damaged beds and dirty rooms. We can’t keep paying Sh43,000 for substandard living,” Rusana emphasized.
With the September semester looming, students have vowed there will be no learning unless the fees are reduced.
The student leadership is demanding that the university confirm the implementation of a proposed Sh20,000 accommodation fee cap and communicate it officially to all students via email.
“If we don’t get that document, we’ll shut the university down,” said Patrick Owino, a student leader and member of the University Council of Governors.
He accused the university management of ignoring student concerns while promoting a misleading image of caring.
“The university says ‘UON cares’, but who exactly do they care for?” he posed.
UNSA Secretary General Elisha Wasike, a medical student, painted a grim picture of students now forced to live in unsafe off-campus areas due to the high cost of on-campus accommodation and poor hostel conditions.
“This is no longer just about money—it’s about dignity and safety. We’re being pushed out of the system we worked so hard to join,” he said.
The growing unrest signals a volatile standoff between students and management as the clock ticks toward the new semester.
About Author
