04 April 2016•Update: 19 April 2016
By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya
Hundreds of rampaging students from the University of Nairobi have brought traffic to a standstill in the Kenyan capital as they protest against the outcome of a disputed union election.
Students took to the streets of Nairobi on Monday, hurling stones at motorists and the police with many chanting that the contest was rigged.
The conflict started on April 2 after Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) Chairman Paul Ongili AKA Babu Owino was re-elected for the fourth time.
Minutes before midnight on April 1 Ongili’s rival, Mike Jacob, had been leading by a large margin after counting had been completed.
The opposition warned that if there was not a recount, demonstrations would hit the Kenyan capital on Monday.
“The University of Nairobi is burning because of a few people who we can eliminate and we shall eliminate,” Jacobs told a crowd at the college on Monday.
Another student who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “On Friday we voted unanimously for one Mike Jacobs, but they rigged the elections and stole it from us. They are playing dirty politics, just the same way as our government leaders.”
Kenyan police fired teargas at the students in an effort to disperse the protesters, a move that intensified the violence.
The students hurled stones at riot police and set fire to SONU offices.
The main road leading to the State House in Nairobi remained closed for the better part of Monday afternoon.
Protesting students vowed that if Owino does not vacate the highly coveted seat then they will continue with their protests.
