Maasai Mara closed after students clash over football match

Maasai Mara University Students Union President Daniel Tarayia addressing the press at the university on November 30,2015.The institution was closed indefinitely after two groups of students clashed leaving two students critically injured [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Maasai Mara University's main campus has been closed indefinitely following clashes between two groups of students.

The chaos erupted after an English Premier League game prompting the administration to close the institution for security reasons.

Daniel Tarayia, the Maasai Mara University Students' Organisation president, blamed the chaos on 'outsiders'. He said the incident was spontaneous and outsiders were spotted participating in the chaos. Scores of students were injured.

"The university has been closed indefinitely as most of the students are psychologically, mentally and even physically affected after the incident. We are yet to know the time it will take to re-open but we will have a Senate meeting with the administration on the way forward," Mr Tarayia said.

Tarayia called on the police to investigate the matter and charge those involved.

Efforts to get a comment from the university's Vice Chancellor Mary Walingo were futile as she was said to be in a crisis meeting with top management over the matter.

The students were given 30 minutes by the security to leave the university compound and most of them were spotted at various bus stops waiting to travel home.

County Police Commander Abdi Galgalo said they were investigating the matter.

In April, a Narok court set free a man who had been arrested at the institution. The court rejected trespass charges against Samuel Owino Ibrahim after he was allegedly found in the university's hostels at 9pm, causing tension among students. Narok Resident Magistrate Allan Sitati, said the university was a public space and, therefore, trespass charges against the accused had no basis