Transport along the Meru-Maua highway was on Tuesday morning paralysed after Meru University students staged a demonstration to protest escalating insecurity within the area.
In their numbers, the agitated learners barricaded the busy highway, disrupting transport along the critical route before they went ahead to light bonfires.
While protesting, the students accused the government and the school administration of failing to curb the prevalent insecurities within the institution.
According to them, despite frequent calls for the enhancement of security around the university, the local authorities had yet to respond to their plights.
Widely circulated images and videos of the incident showed the learners marching along the road while hoisting twigs and placards to express their grievances.
As the protests escalated, a contingent of police officers was immediately dispatched to the scene. The heavily armed officers engaged in running battles with learners who were carrying stones.
The officers fired tear gas canisters at the students, who had barricaded the road using rocks. The learners could be seen scampering for safety as the officers pursued them.
This is not the first time the students have protested against the same issue. In January this year, learning at Meru University was temporarily halted after learners went on a rampage.
The protest, which took place on January 28, ensued after the students demonstrated over the killing of one of their peers by unknown individuals.
The irate students barricaded the Meru-Maua highway and vowed not to move until their grievances were addressed. According to the learners, insecurity was mainly prevalent in the Mascan area, where criminal gangs attack and rob students.
Despite police intervention, the adamant learners overpowered the officers, who quickly sought reinforcement before the students were successfully dispersed from the road.
The officers went ahead to remove the remains of burnt tyres and huge stones that had been placed across the road to bar motorists from passing.
