Meru University of Science and Technology students took to the streets in protest after a Technical University of Mombasa student was stabbed to death while visiting his girlfriend in Meru.
For the better part of Wednesday morning, January 29, the students lit bonfires and blocked roads, engaging in running battles with the police who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds.
The demonstration erupted following the tragic incident, which occurred around 10 PM when the victim was attacked while heading to a room with his girlfriend after buying supper.
"What happened yesterday is that one of our own; a comrade, was stabbed three times when he was going to a room with his girlfriend at around 10 PM after buying supper.
"As the comrades of Meru University, we are not secure enough. We have the police, but they don't do their job because up to now, no action has been taken, yet we reported the case yesterday at night," one student lamented.
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The student was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Students also raised concerns over rising insecurity around the university, demanding immediate intervention from both the institution and local authorities.
"Comrades are being killed and robbed, but nobody is coming to our rescue. We are giving a warning to the Meru University administration and Meru County government that we need lights at Meru University and its environs," another student stated.
This comes about two days after Kenyatta University students held protests due to lack of power, forcing Kenya Power to intervene.
On Monday, January 27, Kenyatta University students staged a protest, blocking a section of the Thika Superhighway over a week-long blackout in their hostels.
The demonstration caused significant traffic congestion, particularly near the Unicity Mall, as students barricaded both sides of the busy roadway.
In response, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) clarified that the outage stemmed from issues in the Kiwanja area of Roysambu, where many students reside.
However, on Tuesday, January 28, Kenya Power announced the successful restoration of electricity supply to the affected region.
