Gusii Institute students block roads as they go on the rampage again
Students of Gusii Institute of Technology Wednesday May 20, 20015 paralysed transport along the Kisii–Keroka highway after blocking the road in renewed protests. It was not immediately clear why they were protesting. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- It was not, however, clear what the students were protesting about.
- Motorists were compelled to use alternative routes as the students pelted their vehicles with stones.
- County Director of Technical Education Mr Lucas Ocharo expressed concern over incident.
- Last week, the students set ablaze eight cars and vandalised a petrol station in protest over the death of two people.
Transport was Wednesday paralysed along the Kisii–Keroka highway after students of Gusii Institute of Technology barricaded the road.
Motorists were compelled to use alternative routes as the students pelted their vehicles with stones.
Those brave enough were being forced to part with money to be allowed to pass through.
It was not, however, clear what the students were protesting about.
This is the second time in less than a week that the students have barricaded the roads.
County Director of Technical Education Mr Lucas Ocharo expressed concern over incident.
“This is a matter that is worrying us,” he told Nation.co.ke
“We are indeed very concerned. We do not want to see this happening in our institutions. I am already in touch with the principal and have asked him to quell the situation,” he added.
SET CARS ABLAZE
Last week, the students set ablaze eight cars and vandalised a petrol station in protest over the death of two people who were killed in an accident on Thursday evening.
The students engaged police in running battles for several hours, rendering the same highway impassable.
In retaliation, the officers shot in the air and lobbed teargas canisters in an attempt to disperse them.
A student from the Institute suffered serious leg injuries after being shot by officers who had been called in to quell the chaos.
Last week’s riots came about after a lorry ferrying electricity poles from Keumbu to Kisii Town lost control and overturned killing two people outside their college.
The two who were confirmed to be workers at the institute died on the spot after the poles fell on them.
Two more people were injured and rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.
The lorry had been impounded by traffic police officers along the Keumbu-Kisii Town highway for a traffic offence and was being driven to Kisii Central police station by one of them.
