Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has ordered the arrest of 35 University of Nairobi (UoN) students who he says might have been involved in what he describes as unruly culture cropping in the institution.
The students were readmitted to the school after their initial arrest last year on suspicion of being involved in criminal activities within the institution.
In his new order, the CS wants the students to be re-arrested and prosecuted afresh claiming that their behaviour could have fostered the unideal behaviour within the school.
Regarding the videos circulating on social media of police brutality on students, Dr Matiang'i clarified that the individuals being roughed up are not students but hooligans hired from the various suburbs of Nairobi to demonstrate against the government.
"The youth who were seen being chased and beaten by the police were not students of that university (Nairobi) but hooligans who were hired by politicians to gang up in the name of university students to participate in unlawful demonstrations,” Matiang’i stated.
[caption caption="Fred Matiang'i during a radio interview"]
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The Education CS, therefore, indicated that the police should not be blamed for the brutality.
Regarding the closure of the institution, Dr Matiang'i stated that the decision was meant to avert further clashes between police and the students.
“We never wanted to witness scenes of students being injured or incurring problems with law enforcers," he said.
[caption caption="Anti riot police outside UoN hostels"]
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Last week, University of Nairobi students engaged in running battles with General Service Unit officers as they protested the arrest of Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino.
Babu Owino, who was a former student leader, was arrested over alleged abusive remarks directed to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
