The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: Erick Otieno, Laikipia University.
A tragic incident involving a first-year student has triggered widespread protests at Laikipia University, culminating in an indefinite closure of the institution.
According to reports, on Friday, 20th March, a group of students had gone on a hike at Subukia Falls when one of them, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media student, was struck by a rolling stone and slipped. Fellow students immediately sought emergency assistance by calling the university ambulance.
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However, they allege that the driver declined to respond, citing the public holiday of Eid Mubarak. The delayed response is believed to have contributed to the student’s death.
The following day, Saturday, 21st March, students took to the streets in protest, demanding justice and accountability from the university administration. The demonstrations quickly escalated, with students expressing anger over what they termed negligence by the institution.
Beyond the tragic incident, the protests brought to light a series of longstanding grievances. These include rising hostel rents, poor infrastructure, missing marks, frequent fee increments, and inadequate health and transport services.
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Students also decried poor living conditions, lack of reliable internet, and inefficiencies in administrative offices.
The unrest led to confrontations between students and police, disrupting normal learning activities. In response, the university administration ordered an indefinite closure of the campus.
As calm gradually returns, attention now shifts to whether the administration will address the students’ concerns and provide justice for the deceased, whose death has become a rallying point for change.
