Many students stranded, others injured as anti-riot police storm Moi University

It's late in the evening -- on Thursday 3. The sun is almost setting.

A number of Moi University students -- most of them in First Year -- are still stranded due the sudden closure of the university following Thursday riots.

Many claim they did not have bus fare or means of transport back home, others could not immediately get Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) in such short notice.

Videos clips and disturbing pictures sent to Wananchi Reporting by some of the students show anti-riot police combing through the university, chasing students, even entering private hostels.

The anti-riot police, clad in full anti-riot gear, can be seen chasing after students in their halls of residence, armed with sticks, and demanding that everyone leaves the university premises with immediate effect.

A group of students can be seen hiding inside what looks like a hostel, trying hard to remain out of sight, apparently for fear of being clobbered.

“They will see you, please move away from the door,” one of the distraught students can be heard in the video shared with Wananchi Reporting.

In yet another video, dozens of students can be seen dragging their loaded suitcases on the hard tarmac, headed for the main gate.

A loud bang can be heard in the background, before a student can be heard cursing from a distance, and breaking into one hell of running, in fear.

Another video, and this one is quite disturbing, shows a group of panic stricken students riding inside an ambulance; two of them are injured, a male and female student.

The siren can he heard blaring, in the process drowning their muted talks.

The injured boy, has a leather belt tied tight round his waste, touching his skin, as if in an attempt to hold into place the blood-soaked bandage in place.

The boy is lying on his side, obviously in pain, his eyes closed. The other students can be heard discussing in low fearful tones.

The ensuing events, according to the students who spoke to Wananchi Reporting, were a culmination of day-long riots by students and the university teaching staff that engulfed the institution on Thursday.

The students claimed that gunshots were fired as the police engaged them on running battles, leaving many injured.

Many freshly admitted students; First Years, who did not know how to go about the situation, were left stranded.

In another clip, a student can be seen holding a spent cartridge in the palm of his hand.

"We are under siege from police who are supposed to protect us. This was so sudden, I come from Monbasa, how do I get home now? Where do I go from here?" Fatma Abdalla, a first year student, lamented.

"This is totally inhuman. How can the university chase us away at night? Where do we go from here? I can't trek all the way to Cheptiret right now," Albert Musimyi, a fourth year student, added.

Moi University was closed indefinitely following sustained strikes from the teaching staff over unpaid salaries.

A lecturer who spoke to Mwananchi Reporting said they were protesting because the university has not payed their salaries since August, alleged non-remittance of pension and loan deductions by the same university.

"Our main issues are non-remittances of 3rd party deductions. Our pension has not been remitted for the last 7 years, which means money has been deducted from our payslip but not remitted. Moi University owes the Moi University pension scheme over 4.2 billion," the lecturer said. 

Students are said to have joined the lecturers in the demonstrations, claiming that that had not been taught since they reported on August 26.

"Students have been on campus for the last 6 weeks doing nothing. Since 1st years reported in August till now nothing has taken place. They were demonstrating asking for their right to attend classes. Instead of addressing their grievances Senate closed the university abruptly. Before students could pack and leave police were called in," the don further said.