University of Nairobi closed after riots

NAIROBI, Kenya - The University of Nairobi was closed indefinitely late Sunday following day-long violent riots which were sparked by the alleged killing of a student by police.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

NAIROBI, Kenya - The University of Nairobi was closed indefinitely late Sunday following day-long violent riots which were sparked by the alleged killing of a student by police.Students were ordered to leave the university immediately, following the closure announced by the Senate after a special meeting.The Senate meeting was prompted by chaos witnessed at the campus for the better part of Sunday when the students first marched to Central police station, where they demanded to be addressed by the divisional commander.They wanted to be told circumstances that led to the death of their colleague, before they took to the streets."We want to know what happened, because we know live bullets were used on innocent students who have a right to hold a demonstration,” Students of Nairobi University Organisation (SONU) Chairman Zack Kinuthia who led the protests said.The group of students later engaged anti-riot police in running battles on University Way round about, where they hurled stones and other objects at motorists. Chaos at the university started on Saturday night, when the students took to the streets, to protest a suicide incident, involving a student who was being detained, at the Central police station cells.The Engineering student, who committed suicide, is reported to have been arrested after he allegedly tried to break into a room in the campus where evidence of his alleged cheating in an examination was kept.It is during protests over the suicide incident, when another student was allegedly shot dead by police on State House road.