BREAKING: UoN Students Paralyse Traffic in Nairobi After 72-Hour Ultimatum Expires

Nairobi came to a standstill on Wednesday afternoon, October 21, 2026, as furious University of Nairobi (UoN) students took to the streets, completely blocking sections of the busy Waiyaki Way highway.

The sudden protests left thousands of motorists stranded, forcing commuters to look for alternative routes as huge smoke pillars billowed into the sky.

The agitated comrades lit bonfires, burnt tyres, and used huge boulders to barricade the crucial transport artery.

Armed with placards, twigs, and blowing whistles, the chanting students accused the government of playing games with their future.

They demanded an immediate resolution to the ongoing lecturers’ strike that has brought academic activities at the institution to a grinding halt.

According to stranded motorists and eyewitnesses, the situation escalated quickly as vehicles trying to navigate the area were turned back.

The protests come exactly less than a week after the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) issued a strict 72-hour ultimatum to the government.

Led by UNSA President Ahmed Rashid, the student body had previously warned that they would not sit back and watch their semesters go to waste.

“Learners should not continue bearing the consequences of a dispute between university staff and the state,” Rashid stated earlier.

He emphasized that students are facing deep uncertainty over when they will finish their studies or sit for exams.

With learning disrupted for days, the students are now demanding direct state intervention.

The ongoing strike has raised serious concerns about major delays in graduation timelines and academic programmes.

As the police move in to clear the highway, motorists are highly advised to avoid Waiyaki Way entirely.

Please use alternative routes like the Nairobi Expressway or Riverside Drive to escape the mounting traffic gridlock.

What are your thoughts on this move by the comrades? Is blocking roads the only way to get the government’s attention? Share your views below.

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