Police officer injured as Dedan Kimathi University students protest in Nyeri

A police officer in Nyeri was injured Tuesday by students as police engaged Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) students in running battles after the students went on strike.

The students were accusing the university leadership of providing poor quality education and encouraging corruption to thrive in the institution.

The angry students protested saying that they were giving a 48 hour notice to the Education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to address their concerns.

They claimed that most of the students, especially those undertaking their undergraduate studies in nursing and engineering were not able to register themselves with any professional body after graduating because the university was not equipping them with the required skills as per the education standards in this country.

The students claimed that the engineering students were not able to do any projects during their time of study and the university was not providing avenues for them to be assessed as is required of any engineering student in Kenya.

They also said that none of the nursing graduates are able to register themselves with medical bodies since the university does not offer the entire course that a student must take to qualify as a nurse in Kenya.

“The university offers 48 units for nursing students instead of the 72 units supposed to be offered for one to qualify as a nurse,” said one student.

The students said it was becoming a great challenge to engineering and nursing students who graduate from the university as they are forced to enrol for a one year programme at Kenyatta University so as to be accredited as qualified professionals.

They alleged that the issues at the university could not be addressed through the negotiation process as the university had rejected the elected student leaders.

The student leaders were suspended from the university after they organised a demonstration early this month that resulted in the disruption of lectures and destruction of property.

The university has since directed the students to pay a total of Sh1.8 million for the damages caused during the previous demonstration.

During the demonstration the students destroyed property including two university buses, a van, several cars belonging to university staff and the students’ welfare block.

Prof Ndirangu Kioni however denied the students’ allegations saying that most of the students are facing disciplinary cases for failing to adhere to exam regulations.

He added that the university would not allow such behaviour to continue.

QUALITY EDUCATION

Prof Kioni said the university has put enough measures to ensure the provision of quality education to the students.

“The issue about the engineering students is something that the university is in the process of handling and we have informed the students accordingly. However, the complaint by the nursing students is one I have not heard before.

"The students are only looking for excuses. We keep adjusting our programmes to be at par with the education curriculum,” said Prof Kioni.

He said the university was in the processes of getting accreditation for the engineering course.

In a letter dated October 20, 2014 signed by the Prof G K Muthakia, the chairperson of the students’ disciplinary committee, the university was in the process of taking disciplinary measures against some students who allegedly violated exam regulations during the August 2014 exam.

Tuesday’s demonstration happened on the day the students resumed their studies since the university was closed indefinitely by the administration early in the month.

Police latter managed to disperse the students.