MOMBASA: Police Injure 1, Arrests 5 Students Protesting Forged Certificates
Learning at Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa came to a halt on Monday, March 17, as students clashed with police in running battles while protesting a variety of concerns.
Armed with placards, the students held demonstrations outside the institution, protesting inadequate management and the purported issuing of substandard credentials.
According to the students, the school’s administration was also interrupting instructional activities by allegedly failing to pay instructors, who in turn boycotted courses, leaving pupils in limbo.
Students at Bandari Maritime Academy protested today, citing high fees, poor training facilities, and delays in obtaining vital maritime documents.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) March 17, 2025
They criticised the management for poor governance, unclear fee structures, limited practical training, and delays in issuing the… pic.twitter.com/NceC24KKiL
Students also expressed concerns about the authenticity of their credentials.
They argued that the certifications offered by the college were not internationally accepted, limiting their chances of finding work, particularly abroad.
“There is a very big problem with certification at this institution,” one of the students lamented.
“Most of these certificates are not recognised internationally, and this has left many of our graduates jobless.”
BREAKING: 8 Bandari Maritime Academy students have been arrested, and they are being held at Mbaraki police station for peacefully protesting against the hiked fees, inadequate opportunity linkage etc.
— Amkeni Community org (@AmkeniC) March 17, 2025
We call on legal support from @LawSocietyofKe @MombasaLaw pic.twitter.com/ri7j0nu2pT
Hizi maandamano ndo appetizer ya one big coming. This is Bandari Maritime Academy mombasa. Polisi wamekuja kudisrupt peaceful protests na teargas. One has hit a student on the head na ako injured. pic.twitter.com/SLOu5Aht7z
— Kimuzi (@Kimuzi_) March 17, 2025
Another student complained and accused the administration of impeding academic progress by failing to provide updates on the status of their examination results.
“We are frustrated because some of us are subjected to multiple continuous assessment tests (CATs) and exams, yet we do not receive our results,” the student claimed.
As tensions rose, the protests became violent after police intervened, firing teargas canisters to disperse the enraged students.
One Student was injured after coming into contact with one of the canisters. Five students have been arrested since the protests erupted.
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In recent months, the country has seen an increase in the number of college students protesting.
The Bandari Maritime Academy event occurred less than a week after students from Kenya’s Multimedia University took to the streets.
On Monday, March 10, MMU students barricaded highways and engaged police officers in running skirmishes following the death of one of their own, who was purportedly killed in a hit-and-run event.
The deceased was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology at the time of his death.
MOMBASA: Police Injure 1, Arrests 5 Students Protesting Forged Certificates
