Kisumu: Kisumu National Polytechnic is set to reopen next week, nearly a month after it was forced to shut down following a week of protests by students.
According to Kenya News Agency, the phased reopening, slated to begin on October 27, will initially allow only candidates preparing for examinations back to class, as announced by officials from the Ministry of Education's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Directorate. Speaking at the institution after a consultative meeting with administrators and student leaders, TVET Directorate representative Maryan Hassan stated that the remaining students would be recalled once stability is fully restored and pending issues resolved.
Hassan emphasized that the reopening will be gradual, with a focus on resuming learning in a controlled manner as investigations into the students' grievances continue. The meeting, chaired by Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo, also reaffirmed Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye's leadership, addressing speculation about her removal, which was among the students' main demands.
Hassan dismissed claims that the institution had hiked fees, stating that a review of the school's financial records showed no changes to the approved structure. She noted that certain levies existed but were sanctioned through government channels and affected all national polytechnics, not Kisumu alone.
The County Commissioner urged students to seek dialogue instead of confrontation, warning that property destruction during demonstrations amounts to a criminal act. He emphasized that the right to protest does not extend to vandalism and encouraged peaceful engagement as the best way to resolve issues.
The polytechnic was closed indefinitely last month after days of unrest in which students blocked roads and clashed with police, accusing the administration of raising fees without consultation. The administration later dismissed the allegations, describing them as misguided and exaggerated.
The incident adds to a growing list of campus disruptions linked to communication breakdowns between students and management in recent years. Education analysts have attributed such unrest to the absence of structured dialogue in institutions and rising economic strain among learners and their families. With the partial reopening now confirmed, attention shifts to whether the renewed dialogue will rebuild trust and whether Kisumu Polytechnic can restore calm without igniting fresh confrontations.