Running Battles as Police Clash with Meru University Students Over Insecurity

Meru University main gate

Meru University students disrupted transport on the Meru–Maua highway on Tuesday, September 9, as they demonstrated against rising insecurity around the institution.

Reports indicate that the protest, organized by the Students Association of Meru University (SAMU), saw learners barricade the busy road with stones, branches and burning tires.

Anti-riot police were deployed to the scene and fired teargas to disperse the crowds, leading to running battles with the students.

In a notice issued ahead of the protest, SAMU called on students to boycott classes, saying authorities had ignored repeated pleas to address safety concerns

“The association has been deeply concerned about the escalating insecurity around our university environs, largely caused by the lack of streetlights and insufficient security measures. After several attempts to engage the relevant authorities, we have resolved to organise a peaceful demonstration to demand urgent intervention,” the notice read in part.

Meru University students protesting on Tuesday, September 9

Students said cases of muggings and assaults have become common, particularly in the Mascan area. They demanded the installation of security lights and stepped-up police patrols.

This was not the first such protest at the institution. On January 28, students held similar demonstrations following the death of a colleague, accusing authorities of failing to address safety concerns.

The unrest in Meru comes just days after University of Nairobi students blocked University Way in the capital over delayed exam results, a protest that also ended in clashes with police. 

In a statement, UoN student leader Emmanuel Keboi warned at the time that no learning activities would continue unless their demands were met.

 “There is not going to be anything going on at the University of Nairobi until our results are released,” Keboi said.

Neither Meru University nor local government officials had issued a response to the latest demonstrations by the time of reporting.