Maseno University closed indefinitely after chaos lead to deaths of 2 students

Maseno University students carry an injured comrade to safety following a confrontation with anti-riot police, yesterday. (PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/ STANDARD)

Maseno University has been closed indefinitely after a confrontation between students and police led to the deaths of two students.

Another student was killed two weeks ago in the escalating violence linked to student elections that had been planned for this week.

Yesterday, three students were admitted to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and 15 others were treated and discharged at the institution’s clinic.

The students claimed police prompted the violence when they confronted various factions vying for the Students Organisation of Maseno University (SOMU) elections that were campaigning around the hostels.

They alleged police fired tear gas in a lorry full of students and the students fell from the moving lorry as they tried to escape to safety.

The confrontation reportedly started on Monday evening when students congregated at the main campus for the ‘Big Debate’ ahead of the student union elections, which were set for today and Friday. Last week a fire burnt down the administration block, destroying crucial records.

 Volatile environment 

Yesterday the students engaged anti-riot police in running battles in and outside the university, blocking the Kisumu-Busia road for the better part of the morning before the closure.

A memo sent to the students at around 10am and signed by the acting Vice Chancellor Catherine Muhoma partly read: “Following the events of last night which resulted in the death of a student, and the skirmishes with the police this morning, the university environment has become volatile and not conducive for learning.”

It added: “The university senate has therefore decided that the university be closed with immediate effect. Students should therefore vacate the university premises in 30 minutes.”

The students blamed the administration for interfering with the polls by barring specific students from contesting while promoting their ‘projects’, a situation they said had raised tension within the main campus for the last two weeks.

They also accused the police of “interfering” with what they termed as peaceful campaigns.