Chuka University students have accused the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) of negligence over increased road accidents involving their colleagues at Ndagani, along the Meru-Nairobi road.
Transport was paralysed on Monday as thousands of Chuka University students barricaded the busy highway protesting the recent killing of a student by a speeding vehicle.
According to the University students association officials, four students have died while 12 others have permanent injuries from accidents at Ndagani since January this year.
However, the university management could not verify the number of students affected by the road accidents as the Vice Chancellor Henry Mutembei was holed up in a meeting.
The protests were triggered by an accident that left one student dead and another fighting for her life on Saturday.
The angry students lit bonfires and blocked the road with logs and stones accusing the KENHA of ignoring their calls for safety measures.
Overwhelmed by the angry students, antiriot police officers, resorted to redirecting traffic off the main highway to avoid the striking youths.
KENHA officials who had arrived early in the morning to mark pedestrian crossings near the University had to flee for their safety as students bayed for their blood.
Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga uncessfully pleaded with the students to unblock the road resulting to an intense clash between the police and students.
Students association secretary general James Kariuki said several pleas to the county government of Tharaka-Nithi and KENHA to improve the road have not been acted upon.
“We have been calling for installation of speed bumps, speed limit boards, pedestrian crossing as well as an overpass. But despite countless appeals and reminders, all out calls for safety remain ignored,” Kariuki stated in a memo calling for the demonstrations.
Moses Leshoo, a student representative, said many of their colleagues have permanent injuries from accidents near the campus.
“With a population of close to 20,000 students, the narrow stretch at the University is always busy with speeding traffic and students crossing or walking along. We need a footbridge to reduce the accidents,” Leshoo said.
Daisy Tasha, a student, said their two colleagues were walking by the side of the road when they were hit by an overtaking vehicle on Saturday.
“My course mate died while undergoing treatment. Another student has broken legs. As usual, the vehicle was speeding and knocked them off the pedestrian walkway,” Tasha said.
