On September 3, 2025, police fired teargas to disperse University of Nairobi medical students who were protesting a delay in their examination results.
The protest began on the University of Nairobi’s main campus, where students chanted, danced, blew horns, and carried placards reading “Accountability is also a unit. Results!!” As the protest spread to University Way—a major road by the university—students lit bonfires, causing a major traffic jam. Police soon arrived and lobbed teargas to disperse the crowd, prompting several students to retaliate by throwing stones. No student or police injuries were reported.
Scholars at Risk is concerned with the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.
Sources:
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-09-03-police-lob-teargas-to-disperse-protesting-uon-students
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/115908-teargas-university-nairobi-students-protest-over-missing-marks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4dDpI-PNss
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)