Egerton University Students Loot School Canteen during Night Protest over Insecurity at Njoro Campus
- Egerton University is counting losses after students staged a protest over rising insecurity within the Njoro campus
- The students went on a rampage on the night of Monday, April 7, after a female colleague was attacked inside her hostel by unknown people
- During the incident, the students destroyed the school kitchen and looted a canteen before the police calmed the situation
Nakuru: Property of unknown value at Egerton University’s main campus in Njoro has been destroyed after students went on a rampage.
Source: UGC
Why did Egerton University students demonstrate?
The students staged a protest on the night of Monday, April 7, over what they claimed was rising insecurity on campus.
During their protest, the students are said to have destroyed a school kitchen and looted the school canteen.
Njoro sub-county police commander David Apima, while confirming the incident, told TUKO.co.ke that the students' anger was fueled by a recent incident where a female colleague was attacked inside the campus hostel.
The student sustained injuries to her head and hand after the attack by unknown individuals who had a panga. They also stole her phone.
“We received reports at 7pm that the students were planning to demonstrate before they kicked off from inside the institution at around 9pm. Some of them went to light bonfires outside the institution’s main gate,” Apima told TUKO.co.ke.
“I dispatched security officers to help the situation and ensure calm is restored on time," he added.
Why is there insecurity at Egerton University's Njoro campus?
The sub-county police boss further said police officers, while at the university, learnt from the students that the insecurity issue is due to poor lighting infrastructure at the Njoro campus.
In addition, the students complained of the ineffectiveness of the private security firm hired by the institution to provide security services. They claimed the officers have no control of movement around the institution.
Source: UGC
The police were able to prevent the students from causing further damage at the institution. Calm was restored around 1am.
“We convinced those who were outside the gate to go back inside the university, and normalcy returned. We continue monitoring the situation,” Apima said.
The police boss, however, advised the students to use proactive ways to address their grievances to the institution’s management without engaging in destructive demonstrations.
A meeting between the security team and the Egerton University management is expected to be held today to address concerns raised by the students.
Egerton University, one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the country, has had its fair share of security challenges.
In 2019, the university unveiled a KSh 70 million security control complex at the main gate that was to host a control room and watchtower for security management around the institution.
Machakos University students protest
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that Machakos University students staged a protest following the death of a colleague.
The students protested outside the Machakos Level Five Hospital, where the colleague died while undergoing treatment.
They alleged that the comrade died due to the negligence of the doctors who were handling him.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Elijah Cherutich A trained Kenyan journalist with over 10 years of experience in radio and digital media. I am currently based in Nakuru city in the Rift Valley region working as a TUKO.co.ke correspondent.
