The students were demonstrating against power rations at the University. Most students of Moi University at Main Campus – some 35km from Eldoret town – cook in hostels which is cheaper than having meals in expensive hotels and food joints around the university.
The university messes where students would ordinarily have meals often prepare less food and of very low quality. Also, due to the lecture schedules, most students leave lecture halls when the messes, which open between noon and one o’clock, have already run out of food.
Cooking is illegal. However, with increased population of students at Main campus, without students cooking in the hostels, all those students cannot be served by available dining facilities.
Students protesting power rations are alleged to have broke into the chips cafes in the university as well as shops, where looting happened.
A letter from a suspended student read in part, ”..that on 3rd of December 2014, you incited students to demonstrate and riot.This led to looting and picketing. You also broke into shops and kiosks and stole food staffs”.
Meanwhile, a high court judge ordered Kenyatta University to set up a new committee to listen to 19 students suspended from the University following disturbances after ballot materials were found in the institution in 2013.
Judge Mumbi Ngugi noted the suspension of the students were unconstitutional and ordered the university to constitute a fresh committee to listen to the students.
The students were represented by lawyer Harun Ndubi among other advocates.
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