How Maseno University Students Can Fight the Police

Maseno University students early Tuesday engaged anti riot police in running battles as they protested rising insecurity around the campus.

Transport along the busy Kisumu-Busia highway was temporarily turned into battlefield as the students engaged the police for hours.

The students barricaded the road, threw stones at the anti riot police who were trying to quell the riots.

At some point, the police were forced to use tear gas canisters to disperse the rioting students.

The protests caused a major traffic snarl-up on the road forcing commuters to seek alternative routes.

The 6-hour battle started in the wee hours of the morning when students complained that they were losing property to residents living around the campus.

The students and locals have had bad blood in the recent past with students accusing locals of stealing phones, laptops and other household goods.

Students claim that there has been an increase in theft cases around Mabungo and Nyawita areas and no action had been taken against culprits.

At one time, the locals intervened to help the police repulse the students who had overwhelmed the anti riot police.

The cause of the insecurity is said to be inadequate housing facilities forcing them to seek alternative hostels outside the campus.

Maseno University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dominic Makawiti said lack of accommodation can not be blamed for insecurity.

“Even if we had the capacity to accommodate all our students inside the institution, we would still find ways of co-existing with the locals,” he said.

Kisumu County police commander David Ngetich said police would stay on guard overnight at the university to ensure situation returns to normal.
      
BY
Kibra King