5 Maasai Mara students arrested during protest over fatal boda boda accident
Anti-riot police officers patrol the street leading to Maasai Mara university in Narok County on May 25, 2021, during protests against the recklessness of boda boda riders.
What you need to know:
- Among those apprehended by anti-riot police officers was student organisation president Humphrey Omollo and Secretary-General Denis Wanjala Matongolo.
Five Maasai Mara University students were arrested on Tuesday while participating in protests at the institution’s main campus along Narok-Bomet road.
The students blocked the busy road in a demonstration against the recklessness of boda boda riders, which they said led to an accident on the same route on Monday night, an incident in which a first year student was killed.
For more than 30 minutes, the students engaged police in running battles as they hurled teargas canisters into crowds, forcing them to retreat back to campus.
Anti-riot police officers quell protests by students of Maasai Mara university in Narok County, against the recklessness of boda boda riders, on May 25, 2021.
Among those apprehended by anti-riot police officers was student organisation president Humphrey Omollo and Secretary-General Denis Wanjala Matongolo.
Police officers pounced on them as they addressed the press at the university’s main entrance.
They were taken to Narok Police Station.
Anti-riot police officers are seen near Maasai Mara university in Narok County on May 25, 2021, during protests against the recklesness of boda boda riders.
Before he was arrested, Mr Omollo condemned the killing of the student and demanded immediate investigations.
“We planned for a peaceful demonstration against the careless riders causing many of our colleagues to die or suffer injuries, in order for them to change,” he said.
Mr Wanjala said the students were only demonstrating to express their disappointment and push authorities to take action.
Anti-riot police officers use tear gas to quell protests by students of Maasai Mara university in Narok County, against the recklessness of boda boda riders, on May 25, 2021.
Earlier, police said preliminary investigations indicated the student jumped from a moving motorcycle which was overlapping a Kenya power lorry from the left side at Total area in the town.
“It is said the girl jumped from a motorcycle and landed under the moving lorry, which ran over her crushing the abdomen. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Narok County Referral Hospital,” a police report states.
