This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
JKUAT Students Protest Brutal Police Response ¶
JKUAT students protested against alleged security concerns in Juja, Kiambu County, on November 11, 2019. However, their peaceful demonstration turned violent when police allegedly used excessive force.
According to videos that went viral online, police officers were seen brutalizing students even after the demonstration had ended and the institution closed. In one of the videos, three officers were seen beating up an unarmed student lying on the ground, with two of them kicking him on the head twice.
Another video showed a batch of officers forcefully breaking into the gates of an apartment occupied by students, firing tear gas canisters in an attempt to smoke them out. A third video showed a lone policeman running outside a hostel while firing at students ahead of him.
The incidents have drawn mass criticism, with Kenyans on Twitter urging the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch an investigation.
JKUAT Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Prof. Robert Kinyua issued a memo on Monday, stating that the Senate had resolved to shut down the institution following student unrest. He directed all students to clear the campus by mid-day.
Students had taken to the streets earlier in protest against alleged security concerns in the area, accusing Juja Police Station officers of not doing enough to protect them and area boda boda operators of colluding with criminals to rob unsuspecting students.
Twitter users have called upon the NPS, IPOA, and DCI to investigate the videos showing police brutality against JKUAT students.
