Egerton suspends 230 students over strike

Egerton University's main gate. [Courtesy]

Egerton University has suspended 230 students following unrest that led to the closure of the institution on December 4, 2019.

Among those suspended is a former engineering student who graduated on November 29, 2019.

The letters caught the students by surprise, as they came just when they were reporting back to the institution after the long break brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The letters dated March 12, 2020, were issued to some of the students on Wednesday when they had gone to pick their items from the institution as they prepare for reopening next week.

The students now join seven Egerton University Students Association (EUSA) officials who were suspended in January and are still awaiting disciplinary action.

The riot also saw students slapped with a Sh16,862 fine each for damages incurred.

The university has a population of 13,000 students who were sent home on December 4, 2019, following the unrest that saw the institution closed indefinitely.

The suspension of the 230 comes at a time the university has announced a phased reopening for completion of the 2019/2020 academic year.

“It was resolved that you be suspended from the university awaiting an appearance before the disciplinary team,” read the letter in part