Kenya police clash with students; campus closed
Latest developments:
July 9, 1997
Web posted at: 2:12 p.m. EDT (1812 GMT)NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- The University of Nairobi was closed Wednesday as riot police stormed classrooms and dormitories and clubbed students who have demanded political reforms before elections later this year.
Armed with automatic rifles, police interrupted final exams, broke down doors on student dormitories and dragged some students off the school's main campus, beating them with clubs and injuring scores.
Third-year arts student F.W. Kinyanjui -- struck on the back of the head, his unconscious body left twitching on the ground -- was later admitted to a hospital in a coma.
Some of the school's 15,000 students responded to the crackdown by throwing stones at police and setting shops ablaze. Others fled to dormitories to pack and leave. As they did, many had to run a gauntlet of club-wielding policemen.
Kenya students clash with police
1.2 MB/10 sec. QuickTime movie
Clashes were also reported on Wednesday at the university's two suburban campuses.
The students at the main campus had planned to march downtown to a mortuary where they said some of their colleagues lay dead, shot by police trying to stop rallies two days ago.
Political reforms sought
At least eight people were killed Monday in clashes at rallies in Nairobi and several other cities in Kenya's worst political violence since 1991, when similar protests led President Daniel arap Moi to end single-party rule.
The reformists want to change laws they say favor Moi and his ruling party, Kenya African National Union. Moi has been president for 19 years.
Before elections that must take place by year's end, the reformists want the government to change laws allowing the president to bar rallies, censor the media, detain people without trial and control freedom of association.
Moi, 73, is still widely expected to win another five-year term because of squabbling among opposition leaders. No date has been set for the presidential and parliamentary balloting.
Students also upset over expulsion legislation
Students are also upset about legislation under which students who fail to pay fees can be expelled.
"University students have got a very real grievance," said opposition politician Paul Muite. "They come from very poor families and the reason their parents are poor is because of the destruction of the economy of this nation through corruption and incompetence by the current government."
Student Charles Sangura called the measure, "a deliberate move to quell the pro-reform movement. They are simply trying to silence us," he said.
Nairobi Bureau Chief Catherine Bond andReuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Riot police disband rally for Kenyan constitutional reform - May 31, 1997
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