Kenyans demand release of Madzao Rocha after his alleged abduction

Kenyans demand the release of Vocal Student President of the University of Nairobi Madzao Rocha after he was allegedly abducted on his way. According to media reports, unknown people abducted him on August 23, 2024 night when he was going home.

However, some undercover agents reportedly tried to abduct him within the university premises earlier in the daytime yesterday. But his fellow students interfered and saved him from illegal abduction.

After successfully escaping the daytime abduction, he left the university campus at 8 p.m. He sent a message to one of his friends telling him at 9:18 p.m.

Madzao told his friend he was going home in a Matatu, a privately owned minibusses in Kenya. He called the same friend at 9:35 p.m. He informed his friend that some people he thought were police officers were bothering him.

Afterward, Madzao’s contact rapidly ended with his friend after 23 seconds before he could reveal the location where he suspected danger. Since then, his phone has been switched off.

It is significant to note that his alleged abduction came after he rejected the proposed funding model for the University of Nairobi (UON). Kenyan President William Ruto launched a new university funding model called the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding (VSLF) on May 3, 2023.

This model aims to provide access to all eligible students in public universities and Technical and Vocational Education institutions by providing sufficient financial support.

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Following this, Madzao condemned this new model imposition on university students. He said their education is not a commodity that the government should exploit for profit.

Madzao also condemned the significantly higher accommodation fees at Sh 42,000 while living in poor conditions. He demanded a reduction in this fee to Sh 15,000.

Hence, he called for a protest on September 2, 2024, against the new university model. Afterward, his alleged abduction happened. Kenyans demand the release of Madzao Rocha in the aftermath of the abduction.