The peaceful atmosphere at Moi University was shattered on Thursday night, October 5, 2024, as a riot by students turned into a violent confrontation with law enforcement. Triggered by the institution’s decision to close its doors indefinitely, the protest soon escalated, leaving three students with gunshot wounds. The incident has not only shocked the academic community but also ignited a heated debate about the governance of universities, the role of police in maintaining peace, and the larger issue of students’ grievances being ignored.
The Trigger: A Sudden Closure and Discontent
The indefinite closure of Moi University, one of Kenya’s premier higher learning institutions, was the catalyst for the unrest. Students, already frustrated with the ongoing disruptions in academic activities, found the decision intolerable, especially considering the fact that parents had paid fees and expected their children to be in school, attending classes. For over two months, no substantial learning had taken place, according to the institution’s postgraduate students’ chairperson, Noel Otieno. This growing dissatisfaction ultimately boiled over, leading to a spontaneous and widespread protest on Thursday night.
Otieno expressed the underlying frustration felt by many students. “The university is on the verge of collapse, with no learning going on in the last two months,” he stated. The shutdown came at a time when students were already under immense pressure to catch up with their academic requirements after prolonged interruptions due to various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and frequent strikes by university staff.
Clash with Police: The Use of Force
As the protests grew in intensity, police officers were called in to quell the situation. However, what began as a peaceful demonstration soon escalated into chaos, with the police using what students and their representatives have termed “excessive force” to disperse the protesters. The most tragic outcome of the night was the injury of three students, all of whom are now receiving medical treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Among the injured is a first-year male student whose kidney was ruptured after being struck by a bullet. Two other students, a third-year and a fifth-year, also sustained gunshot injuries, though their conditions remain stable. The use of live ammunition by police has sparked widespread condemnation, with students and university officials questioning the necessity of such force in handling a student protest.
Moi University Students Organization (MUSO) Secretary General Cornelius Kipkoech and President Vincent Tarus visited their injured colleagues at the hospital. Both were visibly shaken by the incident, expressing outrage at the actions of the police. Kipkoech, speaking to the media, lamented, “This is not the way to deal with students. We were exercising our right to peaceful protest, yet the police responded with live bullets. How can they justify such actions?”
Calls for Accountability
The excessive use of force by the police has now become a major talking point, with various student leaders and human rights activists demanding an investigation into the incident. Kipkoech and Tarus were particularly vocal in their criticism, blaming the police for what they termed as reckless behavior. They also pointed fingers at the government, urging President William Ruto to intervene in what they described as a “crisis of governance” at the institution.
“There is no reason for students to be shot at for expressing their frustrations. We are in a democracy, and students should be able to voice their concerns without fearing for their lives,” said Tarus, echoing the sentiments of many students who feel that their grievances are consistently overlooked by both the university administration and the government.
Kipkoech, in a bold statement, called on President Ruto to step in and save the university from collapse. “We are calling on the President to take immediate action to ensure that the institution does not fall apart. The university has been facing serious challenges for months, and it seems the administration has no solutions. It’s time for the government to step in and restore order,” he said.
Grievances and Underlying Issues
The closure of Moi University is symptomatic of a deeper malaise affecting many public universities in Kenya. Over the years, universities have been plagued by financial mismanagement, strikes by academic and non-academic staff, and a lack of infrastructure development to accommodate the growing student population. These issues have resulted in frequent disruptions to learning, causing frustration among students and staff alike.
For Moi University, the recent riots are not the first sign of unrest. Students have been increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the institution’s management. Noel Otieno, the chairperson of postgraduate students, emphasized that the anger among students was not just about the closure, but also about the broader inefficiencies plaguing the university. “Parents have paid fees, yet students are not receiving the education they paid for. This is a serious issue that cannot be ignored any longer,” he remarked.
The problems at Moi University are reflective of a broader crisis in higher education in Kenya. Many public universities are struggling financially, with budget cuts from the government making it increasingly difficult for them to operate effectively. These challenges have been compounded by corruption allegations, poor governance, and a lack of clear direction from the Ministry of Education.
The Role of the Government and University Management
The government’s role in resolving the crisis at Moi University has come under intense scrutiny. Students and staff alike are calling for more proactive involvement from the Ministry of Education to address the ongoing issues at the institution. While the government has promised reforms in the higher education sector, little has been done to alleviate the immediate problems facing universities like Moi.
The university’s management has also been criticized for its handling of the situation. Instead of engaging with students and addressing their grievances, the decision to close the institution has only fueled tensions. Student leaders have called for a more consultative approach, where the administration takes into account the concerns of students and staff before making drastic decisions.
Kipkoech, speaking on behalf of the students, emphasized that the university’s leadership needs to adopt a more inclusive governance style. “The administration must engage with us, the students. They cannot continue making decisions behind closed doors and expect us to accept them without question,” he said.
Moving Forward: What Next for Moi University?
As the dust settles on Thursday night’s riots, questions linger about the future of Moi University. The indefinite closure has left students in limbo, unsure of when they will be able to resume their studies. For many, the injuries sustained by their colleagues have also raised concerns about their safety on campus.
The university’s administration has yet to release an official statement addressing the shooting incident, but the Uasin Gishu County Police Commander, Benjamin Mwanthi, has confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We are following up to know exactly what happened at the university,” Mwanthi said.
Meanwhile, students are demanding justice for their injured peers and a resolution to the ongoing crisis. The closure of Moi University has not only disrupted academic activities but also exposed the deep-rooted challenges facing Kenya’s public universities.
As the country watches the situation unfold, it is clear that Moi University is at a crossroads. The decisions made in the coming days by both the government and the university’s leadership will determine whether the institution can rise above its current challenges or continue to spiral into deeper chaos.
In the words of MUSO Secretary General Kipkoech, “We are at a breaking point. If the government does not act now, Moi University will be lost, and with it, the future of thousands of students.”
