Chaos As Meru University Students Clash with Police

Meru University students on Tuesday, September 9, staged demonstrations protesting rising insecurity in the area. 

The students barricaded the busy Meru–Maua highway with stones and lit bonfires as they demanded the installation of security lights around the university. 

Anti-riot police officers were deployed to the university to disperse the rioting students and restore normalcy along the road.

The police officers lobbed tear gas canisters at the irate students, who engaged them in running battles.

According to the Meru University students, insecurity around the institution has largely been caused by the lack of streetlights and poor security measures.

The Students Association of Meru University (SAMU) in a statement on Monday, September 8, announced a demonstration, saying authorities have failed to take action over the issue.

“After several attempts to engage the relevant authorities with no meaningful action taken, we have resolved to organize a peaceful demonstration to demand urgent intervention.

“We hereby call upon all students to turn out in large numbers on Tuesday, 9th September 2025. No classes should be attended on this day since your safety is our highest priority,” SAMU Secretary General Cosmas Emerkwa said.

This comes days after University of Nairobi students staged protests over delayed exam results and missing marks.

The students blocked the busy University Way with stones and lit bonfires, causing a major traffic jam.

The police were forced to fire teargas canisters at the UoN students to disperse them from the road.

Speaking after the run-in with police, UoN student leader Emmanuel Keboi noted that academic activities would remain suspended until their demands are met.

"Comrades, we are here today to demonstrate peacefully, but we've been brought rioting officers. We are here because we do not have our results," the president stated.

"We start exams in April, it is September, and we do not have our results. Graduation is in two weeks, and we do not have results."

The student leader also highlighted the prolonged delay in releasing examination results and issued a firm ultimatum regarding the continuation of university operations.

"The direction is one, there is not going to be anything going on at the University of Nairobi until our results are released," Keboi insisted.