Students at Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) are currently protesting near MUST's campus, March 6. They are demanding the reinstatement of Vice-Chancellor Romanus Odhiambo, following his removal by the university council. Demonstrators have set up roadblocks along the Meru-Maua road; clashes between protesters and security personnel are ongoing.
Security forces have been deployed to monitor the protest. Further clashes between security and protesting students are possible should the latter continue to be overly disruptive in the coming hours. Ground travel and business disruptions are likely along the nearby routes, especially the C91.
In a memo signed by Acting Vice Chancellor Charity Gichuki, the university senate announced that students should move out of the campus immediately and that the university would be closed forthwith.
The memo also stated that the 10th graduation ceremony that was scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 11, had been suspended until further notice.
"The University Senate during a special senate meeting held on March , 2023, at 1 pm deliberated on the disruption of University activities due to students’ unrest. Arising from this unrest, Senate resolved as follows; that the university be closed indefinitely. All students must leave all the university campuses with immediate effect," read the statement in part.
Transport was on Monday, March 6, paralysed at Nchiru market along the Meru-Maua road after students of Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) took to the streets to protest Prof Romanus Odhiambo, the Vice Chancellor of the university, being sent on terminal leave.
In videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, students engaged in running battles with police officers. A car on the road was torched in the melee.
Prof Odhiambo had been sent on terminal leave by the University Council citing underperformance.
Students’ organisation president Kariuki Wachira led students in a demo and engaged police in running battles for the better part of Monday morning.
They set a vehicle near on fire near the university gate and blocked the Meru-Maua road.
Prof Odhiambo left on Friday amid protests by a section of students and celebrations by staff unions who accuse the VC of undermining their welfare.
The VC, who joined the university in August 2018, came in amid unending student strikes that led to the killing of a student leader.
Four years and seven months later, the university council gave its verdict: that he had performed below expectation and had to go.
But according to Prof Odhiambo, he has blown exceeded expectations in all performance contract indicators and blames the council decision on political interference.
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