Kenya: Students stage peaceful protests

  1. Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2009 - 12:16
    CHANNY
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya Photo: Lameck Nyagudi
    Students drawn from different universities, on Tuesday staged peaceful protests in the Western town of Nakuru, in Kenya. In the past where such protests drew violent confrontations between students and the Kenyan anti-riot police, this time round, the police offered security to the protesters.
    Lameck Nyagudi kenya Protest day one a state of confusion.jpg
    The police, who were riding on horseback, ensured the safety of the students as they vented out the frustrations on the establishment, which they accused of killing their colleague, and extra judicial killings.

    In Nairobi, students drawn from the University of Nairobi and the Kenya Polytechnic University began their protest march from their respective grounds and walked over to the office of the president, the Attorney Generals Chambers, the Vigilance House which houses the Police Commissioner and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre- which houses the government spokesman, Alfred Mutua.

    At the Vigilance House, they called for the resignation or immediate sacking of the police Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali, and the Attorney General Amos Wako. They also called for the dismissal of the Government Spokesman.

    They also accused the police for the recent killing of human rights activists Oscar Kamau Kingara, and Paul Oulo.

    Earlier on, there was apprehension amongst businessmen and workers as the students finalised on their plans to hold the demonstrations. Many had feared for a violent confrontation between the police and the students as has been happening before. There was panic when the students blocked some major roads leading into and out of the city with commandeered vehicles. For two hours, the roads remained deserted as most motorists avoided using them. The police did not intervene, opting to watch from a distance.

    In Nakuru, students from the Egerton University poured to the streets in support of their colleagues in Nairobi. They also condemned the government for the killing of a Nairobi University student. No violence was reported.

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