Records burnt in university fire

What you need to know:

  • The most affected sections were the central registry, the store, the finance office, and the office of the director of student affairs.
  • The incident disrupted learning on the institution’s main campus in Maseno Township for the better part of yesterday morning.
  • Another student, Mr Phelix Juma, told journalists that the masked individuals had knocked on the doors at night, asking calling on them to come out and join them.

A fire broke out at the Maseno University administration block on Thursday, destroying crucial records.

The inferno started around 2am, and police said they were conducting investigations to establish its cause.

The most affected sections were the central registry, the store, the finance office, and the office of the director of student affairs.

The office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and that of the DVC (Administration and Finance) were partially burnt.

The incident disrupted learning on the institution’s main campus in Maseno Township for the better part of yesterday morning.

Witnesses linked the fire to discontent over the ongoing campaigns for student union elections set for October 16.

However, some university sources pointed to an intensified succession battle. Four candidates have been interviewed for the post of vice-chancellor following the expiry of Prof Dominic Makawiti’s first term. There have been allegations of misuse of funds and nepotism at the institution.

Students who spoke to the Nation yesterday said some masked people, possibly hired goons, had stormed their hostels in an attempt to wake them up to participate in a demonstration.

The strike was over a decision by the university to bar some students from running for elections

“We suspect that some of the students who were barred from vying in the Somu (Student Organisation of Maseno University), scheduled later this month, organised the demonstration, which saw the offices burnt,” a student, who cannot be named for fear of reprisals, told the Nation.

Another student, Mr Phelix Juma, told journalists that the masked individuals had knocked on the doors at night, asking calling on them to come out and join them.

“They were shouting: ‘Comrades, power! Comrades, power!’ Soon tear gas was lobbed to disperse the group. By that time, the administration block was already ablaze,” said Mr Juma.

A spot check by the Nation revealed smashed hostel windowpanes and pieces of broken glass from “petrol bombs” said to have been used by the rioters, who are yet to be identified.

One of the “petrol bombs” was hurled at the balcony of the Kilimanjaro Hostel, which houses male students.

Some of the windowpanes of the neighbouring Sunrise Hostel, for female students, were also shattered.

Ms Lilian Anyika said stones were hurled at her hostel, which is a few metres from the office that was burnt down.

“We did not identify the people who were knocking on our doors. Out of fear, we remained indoors because of the insecurity threats that have faced universities lately,” said Ms Anyika.

Deputy VC (Research) Joseph Chacha said security guards on duty at the time reported that they saw some students throwing objects at the offices.

“The cause of the fire has not been established yet. The police and the university are still conducting investigations to find out the cause of the fire,” said Prof Chacha.

He said that should they discover that somebody was responsible for the fire, appropriate legal action would be taken against the individual.

The university authorities said most of the property destroyed were files containing staff and finance information.