News
Student shot in neck dies in hospital
Kenyatta University students leave the main campus under police watch on Monday. The institution was closed indefinitely following student rampage on Sunday night. Photo/MICHAEL MUTE
Posted Monday, March 30 2009 at 22:17
A Kenyatta University student died of gunshot wounds on Monday evening while receiving treatment.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit of Kenyatta National Hospital, according to hospital boss Jotham Micheni, where he was being treated after being shot in the neck.
The victim was injured on Sunday night when students rioted and extensively damaged the university.
Dr Micheni told the Nation that in total 10 students were treated at Kenyatta for fractures and gunshot injuries. Four were admitted while the rest received treatment and were allowed to go home.
Three are still in hospital, including one with injuries to the chest who was undergoing surgery as we went to press.
Speaking to the Nation by telephone earlier, police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said: “The APs based on campus struggled to save the university. That’s when they were forced to use their firearms before the main anti-riot contingent arrived.”
Police said they changed their method of dealing with student riots after the shooting of a University of Nairobi student last month. GSU and regular police officers are sent to quell school riots unarmed.
Some 20 rifles from the APs on campus have been taken for ballistic tests.
“We can’t say whether the use of firearms was justified because investigations are not complete,” the police spokesman said.
Students said they rioted after vice-chancellor Olive Mugenda disbanded an elected students’ union and replaced it with a hand-picked one.
To make matters worse, students accused the VC of slapping on them a Sh23 million fine for damages resulting from a protest over exam registration a fortnight ago after she had estimated it at Sh15 million.
The students’ response on Sunday night, just two days after they were recalled, was bizarre. Wanton destruction, reckless demolition and ruin.
What stood as a Computer Centre is now debris. Destroyed computer parts loosely hang from desktops and glass cluttered the floor.
Across was an elaborate Students’ Centre where students relaxed after lectures. This has now been reduced to ashes.
The famous Harambee Hall, known for hosting the Kenyatta University Travelling Theatre is now a hall of shame.
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Submitted by Daniel08Posted April 02, 2009 09:49 AM
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Submitted by Assah
Police brutality must stop. The GSU should go and protect the Migingo island, fight the Mungiki and use that energy somewhere else than killing, beating up and rapping harmless students. I guess the presence of police is what led to massive destruction. It is thought that the teargas that were thrown to students is that which started the fires, burning Cinema hall and KUSA offices
Posted April 02, 2009 09:04 AM -
Submitted by Sprately
As a kenyatta university alumni,the current students should bear the whole cost of replacing what was damaged.
Posted April 02, 2009 12:23 AM -
Submitted by mkimero
I'm a former graduate of KU and it's really sad to see students behaving in a manner so desperately devoid of common sense. Does destroying university property help them achieve their goals? What about eventually graduating, how do they hope to study if they have no facilities? These are going to be our future leaders.... how pathetic?!
Posted April 01, 2009 09:43 PM -
Submitted by Wanjiku98
We need a law that imposes death penalty on property destruction. Why not complete your 4 years and get the hell out. Schools are neither your homes nor are they for your comfort. Get your knowledge and go start your homes where you can make rules that favour and comfort you. Let us have a database of all these "kids" across the nation who are destroying things. They will never get a job from me and a bunch of others i can influence. Disgusting!!! Database people. I can create it. I need people to back me up.
Posted April 01, 2009 09:30 PM
RSS
What does any one expect when we have a Prime minister who encourages protest and I can assure you he has never been known to conduct peaceful demonstrations himself. Our problem is clear lack of leadership, the ability for our leaders to understand that their action and comments will generally have effect on the way the common people react to and perceive what is happening around them. Other world leaders, even here in the UK denounce violence, preach peace, cohesion and harmony. Ours are seen on media advocating for demonstrations and confrontation, a lack of basic leadership values.