Students from the University of Nairobi (UoN) have expressed discontentment at the university’s decision to shut down the institution indefinitely due to security concerns.
University of Nairobi students want VC Mbithi removed
University of Nairobi was shut down indefinitely following riots that have rocked the institution recently.
The University senate on Tuesday morning asked all the students to vacate the premises following student unrest over last week’s police assault that left at least 27 students with injuries.
“UON senate has today closed the University with immediate effect due to the deteriorating security situation. Students have been asked to vacate the halls of residence with immediate effect but not later than 9.00am,” read a tweet from the institution.
And now the students from the institution, rated the best in Kenya, have come out lashing at the Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Mbithi whom they want ejected from office over last week’s brutalities. The students also accuse him of allegedly inviting the anti-riot police to invade classes and halls to assault students.
“Prof. Mbithi is a coward for inviting the General Service Unit (GSU) officers to the school on Thursday (last week). Even the former VC Mr. Magoha would not allow police officers anywhere near the university compound,” said Bill, a third-year student studying Mechanical Engineering at UoN.
“We will push for his removal once we re-open as he has failed to manage the institution accordingly,” added the disgruntled student.
Some of the scholars who spoke to Business Insider SSA expressed frustration at the school’s decision to close the facility given that they had resumed studies just a month ago.
“It is quite unfortunate that I’ll have to go back home barely a month after we opened for the new semester. The administration should be ashamed of itself,” JB Waweru, an Economics student, told Business Insider SSA.
On Thursday, the students took to the streets demanding the release of Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, a former Students Organization of Nairobi University(SONU)chairman, who had been re-arrested by police. The MP, who is a former UoN student leader, was arrested and faced various charges including subversion and uttering abusive words.
Anti-riot police had to intervene to quell the protests but were accused of brutally beating the students.
Similar demonstrations were witnessed on Monday evening where the students destroyed property whilst chanting "Mbithi must go! Mbithi must go!”
The university remains a no-go zone to all students with no word on when it will be re-opened.
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