Property of unknown value at Egerton University’s main campus in Njoro has been destroyed after students started a protest.
The students staged a protest on the night of Monday, April 7, over what they claimed was rising insecurity on campus.
During their protest, the students are said to have destroyed a school kitchen and looted the school canteen.
Njoro sub-county police commander David Apima, while confirming the incident, said the students’ anger was fueled by a recent incident where a female colleague was attacked inside the campus hostel.
The student sustained injuries to her head and hand after the attack by unknown individuals who had a panga. They also stole her phone.
The sub-county police boss further said police officers, while at the university, learnt from the students that the insecurity issue is due to poor lighting infrastructure at the Njoro campus.
In addition, the students complained of the ineffectiveness of the private security firm hired by the institution to provide security services. They claimed the officers have no control of movement around the institution.
The police were able to prevent the students from causing further damage at the institution. Calm was restored around 1am.
The police boss, however, advised the students to use proactive ways to address their grievances to the institution’s management without engaging in destructive demonstrations.
A meeting between the security team and the Egerton University management is expected to be held today to address concerns raised by the students.
Egerton University, one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the country, has had its fair share of security challenges.
In 2019, the university unveiled a KSh 70 million security control complex at the main gate that was to host a control room and watchtower for security management around the institution.
