Student dies after 'gunshot-like' explosion causes terror scare at varsity campus
One of the students who was injured Sunday morning following a stampede at Nairobi University's Kikuyu campus. This followed the explosion of a power transformer which caused panic as students feared it was a terrorist attack. One student was confirmed dead. PHOTO | ISAAC ONGIRI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The 4am incident which happened at the university’s Kikuyu campus caused confusion and panic.
- Many students mistook the explosion for a terrorist attack.
- The university's Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi said 99 students were being treated at KNH.
One student died Sunday morning following a stampede at the University of Nairobi's Kikuyu Campus.
The stampede was as a result of “gunshot-like” explosions from a power cable which caused a terror scare among the students who were in their hostels.
Several others were injured and rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and other city hospitals.
Confirming the death of the student, the university's Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mbithi said 99 students were being treated at KNH.
He said 141 others were being treated at various city hospitals.
The body of the dead student was taken to Chiromo Mortuary.
The 4am incident caused confusion and panic as many students mistook the explosion for a terrorist attack.
This forced students to scamper for safety with many jumping from as high as the sixth floor of their hostels.
Many sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital.
Initial reports indicated that several of them were critically injured.
The stampede was caused by fears among students that the loud noise from the explosions could have been an attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists.
This comes two weeks after 148 people died at the Garissa University College following an attack by the Somalia-based terrorist group.
Reacting to the news, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua wished the injured students quick recovery, saying their reaction was understandable due to prevailing circumstances.
"So sad but understandable in these unpredictable times. (I) Wish them quick recovery," Ms Karua tweeted.
