Karatina, Nyeri County – Students at Karatina University are grappling with the crushing burden of arbitrary rent hikes, leaving many in financial distress. Local landlords and hostel owners have raised rents without considering the students’ welfare, imposing a severe strain on their already limited budgets.
For many students, the rent for single rooms has surged from Ksh 4,000 to Ksh 5,000, despite the poor living conditions. These rooms often lack ceiling boards and floor tiles, exacerbating the feeling of exploitation and neglect. The students have made desperate pleas to the university administration for intervention, but their cries for help have gone unanswered. Efforts to communicate directly with landlords have also been futile, as the unjust rent increases persist, deepening the students’ financial woes and sense of helplessness.