Lecturers from Egerton University were up in arms on Wednesday, December 2, as they sought for the removal of the Vice Chancellor Professor Rose Mwonya.
They argued that Mwonya should not resume office after years of alleged malpractice and mismanagement which had clouded her tenure.
The protests soon turned ugly as the lecturers used wooden planks and stones to barricade the embattled VC from accessing her office.
"Mwonya must go," were among the chants that echoed through the institution during the protests.
Members of the press were also barred from accessing the university by the dons who were adamant that the riot would only end if Mwonya was let go.
Anti-riot police officers rushed to the scene in a bid to calm the situation but their efforts were, however, deterred.
Their grievances ensued from an order from the Employment and Labor Relations Court which had suspended the terminal leave of Mwonya thus reinstating her to office.
The besieged university boss was slated to retire on January 12, 2021, but had been sent on terminal leave by the University Council.
She, however, moved to court to obtain an order to stop the process.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa ruled in her favor and suspended the terminal leave.
"Pending the hearing of this application, the court is pleased to issue interim orders suspending the decision dated November 13, 2020 that purports to send ex parte applicant on leave with direction to hand over her role as vice-chancellor to Prof Isaac Kibwage, in its entirety," ruled Justice Wasilwa.
This deterred the lecturers who had initially signed a return-to-work formula in the past 24 hours with the interim Vice Chancellor Isaac Kibwage.
Kibage had been appointed by University Council in November to take over from Mwonya.
