Closure of Pwani University Till 17th April
Closure of Pwani University Till 17th April. To give staff and students time to grieve for those who lost their lives in a traffic tragedy in Nakuru County, Pwani University has been closed till April 17.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Vice Chancellor Mohamed Rajab, the Senate approved this choice during a meeting that very same day.
At least 18 casualties were officially recorded on Thursday following a bus from Pwani University and a matatu crash at the Kayole Bridge on the Nairobi-Nakuru route.
Three staff members and eight college students were present. On Saturday, third-year student Richard Mabiatu fell suddenly at Kenyatta National Hospital, bringing the total of student fatalities to nine.
In its notification, the senate demanded that the students leave the campus by Saturday at 3 p.m.
Prof. Rajab noted that the circumstance has an effect on instruction and learning and that students might not be mentally prepared for their semester-ending tests.
According to him, “The Pwani University Senate resolved to reorganize the second semester to allow students and staff to grieve, and to undertake counseling and trauma management to cope with the current conditions, and to heal.”
He explained that exams would commence on May 2 and end on May 12, that the graduation ceremony for 2019 students would be held in December, and that fieldwork and teaching practice would begin on May 15.
The Senate’s decision follows student protests that got underway on Thursday night. After the administration intervened through its leaders, they were suspended.
However, on Friday night, when the students took to the streets and committed crimes like stoning cars, they resumed until about 11 o’clock.
A student who talked to the media claimed that after one of them was attacked, they challenged police officers. The pupils claimed that when one of them went up to the officers to speak with them and was shot with a gun, the others moved forward and began rioting.
When the kids had lit candles in honor of classmates who had perished in the accident, police officers arrived. When they see the cops, the student’s attitude changes,” the learner added.
“Civilians attacked the students,” he continued. One was stabbed in the hand with a knife, and another had a bottle stabbed in his neck. The Senate has since released a memo with notice, and students are now fearing for their lives. Others lack transportation.
Also, there were worries that some young women may have been sexually assaulted during the protests, and it was said that the Senate released the students in order to prevent them from meeting people in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
“We believe the Senate did not want us to meet with the returning students. The student informed Nation.Africa, “We have information that they have boarded the Standard Gauge Train.
“The administration issued a notification but did not address us. They fled out of terror, but many of them are stuck, particularly those staying in the hostels. The girls will grovel for accommodations, but what if they have no friends? They might put themselves in danger.
Kenneth Maina, the commander of the Kilifi North Sub-county Police, claimed that once the students began rioting, the police were sent to disperse them.
“The pupils were composed. We are unsure of what started the disturbance, he said.
On Saturday, police were cruising the towns of Kilifi and Kibaoni.