Nyeri National Polytechnic has been closed indefinitely, with students ordered to vacate the institution immediately following violent protests that disrupted learning and administrative operations on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The unrest reportedly began over disputes surrounding student leadership elections and complaints over newly introduced internship fees before escalating into running battles between students and police officers.
Witnesses said the protests quickly spread beyond the institution after students blocked roads leading to the campus using stones, tree branches and other debris, paralysing movement in and around the area.
Videos circulating online showed large groups of students chanting outside the school gates as tensions intensified.
Police officers were later deployed to contain the situation after demonstrations reportedly turned chaotic. Security officers lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds, while reports from the ground indicated that gunshots were also heard during the confrontation.
Dense clouds of tear gas engulfed sections of roads surrounding the institution as students scattered in different directions, with some regrouping away from the main gate despite the heavy police presence.
Following hours of unrest, the institution’s management ordered all students to leave the campus immediately as authorities moved to restore order and prevent further destruction of property.
Although the institution had not issued a detailed official statement by Friday evening, reports indicated that the indefinite closure was considered necessary to safeguard public safety and protect school property.
The protests are reported to have been triggered by disagreements over the student election process, with some students accusing the administration of mismanaging the exercise. Other reports linked the demonstrations to discontent over new internship-related charges introduced at the institution.
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The closure of Nyeri National Polytechnic adds to a growing list of unrest cases being witnessed in schools, colleges and universities across the country.
Just days earlier, Ingotse Boys High School in Kakamega County was closed indefinitely after students staged a violent protest that led to destruction of property and disruption of learning activities.
By Joseph Mambili
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