NAIROBI, Kenya, March 7 – University of Nairobi students have threatened to mobilise protests next Tuesday to push for the resignation of Police Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali.
The students are enraged by what they termed as ‘police harassment’ since the brutal murder of a student and two human rights activists outside the university’s hostels last Thursday.
Flanked by a group of students, Union Chairman Dan Mwangi said the students would not allow further disruption of normal business in the institution by the police who have kept vigil outside the University since Thursday’s shooting.
“Students have not slept for the last two days because all these hostels have been tear gassed by the police. Students are so worried, we are doing exams but we cannot even read,” Mr Mwangi complained.
“This state house road has become a menace for the students, we are declaring that from Tuesday we shall close it and make it a foot path for students.”
A second year student was shot dead by police on Thursday night hours after Oscar Foundation Director Kamau Kingara and a collegue Paul Oulu were brutally murdered. Students had engaged the police in a confrontation and stopped them from removing the two bodies of the rights officials when the student was shot.
The students engaged the police in a another confrontation on Friday night. They lit bonfires and stopped traffic on State House road before the police pushed them back to the campus by firing tear gas.
“The police had the audacity to chase away peaceful students as they came from the library,” Mr Mwangi said adding that several female students were injured in the Friday night confrontation.
“Although Police Commissioner has announced the arrest of three officers who used live bullets during the confrontation, we are now demanding that he parades the three in public,” he said.
Mr Mwangi also demanded an official statement from Internal Security Minister George Saitoti over the continued ‘harassment.’
“If they cannot guarantee security for the students inside the University they should close the campus immediately,” he said.
About The Author
