Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-08 09:56:12
Business activities along the Meru-Nanyuki highway came to a standstill on Friday, March 8, as students from Meru National Polytechnic staged demonstrations. The protest, which saw hundreds of students taking to the streets, resulted in the main highway to Meru town being barricaded and a bonfire being ignited, effectively halting vehicular traffic. The students were demanding justice for three of their colleagues who had tragically lost their lives in a road accident.
The protests were sparked by the deaths of three students who were reportedly struck by a speeding vehicle. The outraged students accused the police of being slow to take action against the driver, leading them to take matters into their own hands and demonstrate. The incident had occurred on Thursday, March 7, when a speeding car hit three students who were skating on the main road. One student died on the spot, while the other two succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital.
As the crowd of protesting students continued to grow, they marched from the institution towards Meru town, demanding immediate justice for their fallen friends and calling on the authorities to hold the driver accountable. The protests at Meru National Polytechnic paralleled similar actions taken by students at the Multimedia University in Nairobi a month prior. These students had protested after a fellow student was attacked by hyenas while heading home, blocking the Magadi road and lighting bonfires in their demonstration.
The Multimedia University students accused the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) of negligence in addressing the issue of stray hyenas that had been attacking students along the road to the institution. They expressed their determination to continue protesting until the matter was resolved, emphasizing that this was not the first incident of students being attacked by hyenas in the area.
Both instances of student protests highlight the frustration and anger felt by the student community when it comes to issues of safety and justice. The demonstrations serve as a powerful reminder of the students’ resilience and their willingness to speak out against perceived injustices. It is evident that these young individuals are not willing to stay silent in the face of adversity and are willing to take action to demand accountability and change.
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