Students, police clash over payment of Sh16,000 fine

Policemen arrest students of Egerton University's Njoro Campus yesterday. Inset: The university's Vice Chancellor Rose Mwonya. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

Rioting Egerton University students were left sharply divided yesterday over payment of a Sh16,862 fine imposed by the institution following riots last year. 

The students, who engaged police in two days of running battles at the Njoro Campus, attempted to storm the institution after the management recalled first and fourth-year students to sit their end-of-semester examinations.

The second, third and fifth-year students were repulsed by a contingent of security personnel called in by the management on Sunday evening to prevent unauthorised access into the university.

While some of the students have committed to pay the fine imposed for damaging property on December 4, others vowed not to pay up.

The learners engaged anti-riot police in running battles, hurling stones at the officers and their colleagues who were trying to access the institution.

There was pandemonium after police lobbed tear gas canisters and fired in the air to disperse the protestors. More than ten students were arrested in the melee.

Although tension was high outside the institution, there was relative calm inside the school.

Business was also disrupted for the better part of the day with many shops remaining closed.

The students who were allowed back into campus had to present a signed commitment letter to the finance department stating that they would clear any outstanding fees by the end of February.

According to the university, more than 4,000 students pledged to clear their arrears.

Terms and conditions

Ian Otieno, a fourth-year student, said he saw it fit to abide by the university's terms and conditions because he wanted to finish his studies and "move on with life".

Mr Otieno said there was no need to antagonise the institution.

But Morris Makalal, a third-year student, said he would not pay for the damages or sign the commitment letter.

"What if we sign then we lack funds to pay on the due date?” asked Mr Makalal.

He regretted that their academic calendar had been disrupted.

Other students, who declined to be named, demanded for the immediate release of their colleagues.

The students said the university management should consider the hard economic times and reduce the fine. A few suggested that the penalty should not exceed Sh200.

The students who were locked out urged the university to communicate on their fate.

“We are not happy, and as comrades we must be heard,” said one of the students.

So far, 15 students have been suspended over the December riots. These include seven leaders of the Egerton University Students Association.

The university, in an internal memo to deans and directors of various faculties, directed that the 15 should not be allowed to sit their examinations.

University Vice Chancellor Rose Mwonya also stood firm that the penalty would not be lowered.

Prof Mwonya said the damage caused by the students was calculated by the university to be Sh235,268,018.

This amount, she said, was distributed equally among 13,953 students who were in session at the campus, excluding 712 students with disabilities.

Experiments destroyed

The VC said the students destroyed graduate students' experiments and research work, damaged Tatton Agricultural Park as well as tiled and asbestos roofing materials on several buildings, including the library.

The students also reportedly looted and destroyed agricultural innovations and products under incubation and development in the Agro-Science Park. Some of the items had been developed for years as flagship projects in support of Vision 2030.

"Therefore each student at Njoro Campus was surcharged Sh16,862 to be paid before resumption of studies. The damage was unwarranted," said Mwonya.

She added: "The university will not tolerate damage to property. It will continue to uphold discipline and encourage an open-door policy for solving issues affecting students.