Varsity strike cripples businesses

Businessmen in the Maseno community are counting losses after the massive destruction of their property following Maseno University students’ unrest resulting to fierce combat between the students, locals and policemen.

The angry students who were protesting the murder of their fellow comrade by one local on Monday evening marched to Emabungo village Tuesday, where the murder took place demanding for justice but some of the villagers retaliated by engaging the students in battle in an attempt to drive them away. The one-day scuffle between students and villagers left property of immense value destroyed and it is the businesspeople who were most affected because their structures are aligned at the roadside where the clash took center stage.

The delayed deployment of anti-riot police to the scene ensured the brawl ensued to late afternoon hours during which enough harm had been already done to stalls and kiosks laying on the edge of the road. Most of the affected businesses did not reopen the following day as proprietors were busy reconstructing their damaged structures while others were nowhere to be seen near their working places.

As a result of the unending turbulence, the university was closed indefinitely and students were forced to vacate the premises under the punitive direction of anti-riot police. More losses are expected to be incurred by businesspeople in Maseno because the students are cornerstones to the foundations of their businesses.