Maasai Mara University closed indefinitely

The main entrance to Maasai Mara University.[File, Standard]

The Maasai Mara University has been closed indefinitely following students' unrest on Thursday, February 23.

This is after botched student leadership elections which the students claimed were interfered with, by the administration.

According to a statement by the university's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Bulitia Godrick, students have been ordered to vacate the main campus immediately.

"This is to notify all students that due to the ongoing student unrest, the senate, in a Special Meeting held today, Thursday, 22d February 2024, resolved to close the University indefinitely." the notice read in part.

"All students are, therefore, instructed to vacate the university premises with immediate effect."

A group of students who spoke to the Standard claimed that the management was keen to install certain student leaders who were "friendly" to them, a decision which prompted them to riot.

"Most of us were unhappy after learning of the interference by the management in our elections. We were further angered by the university's Election Appeals Committee that postponed the fifth union elections until further notice," said one of the students who requested anonymity.

The students attempted to block the Maasai Mara-Narok road near the institution forcing the university senate to call for an emergency meeting that resulted in the closure of the institution.

Anti-riot police have been deployed to the institution to ensure their compliance.