RIOT

Students belong to lecture halls not police cells, Babu Owino tells cops

The MP demands immediate release of the Meru Varsity students

In Summary

• The institution was indefinitely closed on Monday, following student unrest that paralysed traffic along Meru-Maua road.

• Several students were arrested during the unrest as they allegedly protested demanding that VC Romanus Odhiambo resumes work.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Image: FILE

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has called for the immediate release of Meru University students arrested by the police.

Through his Twitter handle on Monday, Owino said the arrested students belong in lecture halls and not cells.

“The demos by the Meru University comrades were peaceful until the police started rioting. We demand that those students who were arrested be released for they belong to lecture halls not police cells,” Owino said.

The MP also said that demonstrations will increase if university fees are increased.

“Should they increase university fees; demos will be better imagined than experienced.”

The institution was closed indefinitely on Monday, following student unrest that paralysed traffic along Meru-Maua road.

Several students were arrested during the unrest as they allegedly protested demanding that VC Romanus Odhiambo resumes work after he was sent on terminal leave by the university council.

During the riots, students at the university torched a vehicle on the road as they engaged police officers in running battles. 

In a memo, acting Vice Chancellor Charity Gichuki said the University Senate decided to close the institution after a meeting.

"Arising from this unrest, Senate decides as follows; That the University be closed indefinitely. All students must vacate university premises with immediate effect," the acting VC said.

Last week the Embakasi East MP said that he will mobilise university students across all 47 counties to fight for their rights.

"Learners should be out to fight for their rights," the MP said.

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