Angry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students took to the streets on Wednesday night over the death of a student at the institution.
The students claimed “negligence” by the university hospital’s medical staff caused the death of their comrade earlier in the day.
The rioting students blocked Thika Superhighway at Juja Town, leading to heavy traffic and passers-by scampering for safety as the irate and seemingly drunk students went on the rampage.
A student who spoke on condition of anonymity said the deceased was taken to the university hospital after suffering from alleged food poisoning but was not given the required attention.
“The student was left lying helpless on the hospital bed without being attended to thus leading to his demise,” purported the student.
DISPERSE THE STUDENTS
Police from Juja Police Station had a hard time containing the rowdy students who engaged them in running battles.
They used tear gas and gunshots in the air to disperse the students.
Juja OCS Zachariah Ateya said the police did the best they could to contain the situation, though property of an unknown value got destroyed in and outside the institution.
JKUAT students’ organisation finance secretary, Tumaini Bundi, said the students were angered by the death of one of the comrades and were seeking to know if the hospital personnel were indeed qualified to perform their duties.
Gunshots could be heard as late as 8:30pm inside the main campus as police tried to disperse adamant students.
The university’s administration could not be reached for comment.
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