Transport has been paralysed along Magadi Road towards Rongai after students from the Multimedia University, while protesting, blocked the road. The protests were caused by the death of one of their colleagues who was killed in a road accident along the road.
The students barricaded the roads and engaged police officers in running battles following the protests that began on Monday morning.
One of the students from the institution, Lameck Wambui Mwangi, was found dead on March 9 in what authorities report might have been a hit-and-run accident along Magadi Road.
Mwangi was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology at the time of his demise.
His death was confirmed by the Multimedia University Dean of Students David Obonyo in a memo sent to the students and seen by Kenyans.co.ke.
''We regret to announce the untimely demise of the late LAMECK MWANGI WAMBUI SST-261-115/2023 which occurred on Sunday 9th March 2025 after a fatal road accident. The late Lameck was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology,'' Obonyo confirmed.
''He hailed from Mwea West District, Kirinyaga County. His interment shall be announced at a later date,'' he added.
The protests border a similar incident where the students protested on September 17, 2024, while accusing the university administration of failing to heed their demand to restore water inside their hostels.
Additionally, the students protested the delayed disbursement of their loans by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
During the demonstrations, the National Police Service came under scrutiny after officers deployed to contain the protests were accused of using excessive force against the students.
In one incident captured on video, police officers in anti-riot gear were seen cornering a student and assaulting him with their batons and blows.
The incident attracted condemnation from civil and police watch groups including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority(IPOA) who confirmed launching investigations into the incident. However, a report is yet to be released on the fate of the investigations.
