Kisii police commander Simon Kiragu has defended Kisii University students over accusations that they looted shops and hotels when they were demonstrating in Kisii town on Tuesday this week.
Speaking to this reporter in his office on Friday, Kiragu said members of the public took advantage of the demonstration to loot.
He said the students were holding peaceful demonstration to show dissatisfaction over Commission for University Education’s announcement to close 10 of the university’s 13 campuses.
He condemned the incident terming it hooliganism and said whoever found involved in such acts will be arrested and charged.
“The students had a peaceful procession. They were on lawful course. We were aware of the procession and they even reported back to the police desk that they had completed their procession. Some people masqueraded and looted a mobile phone kiosk at Zonic,” he said.
He added: “Lucky enough police were near the scene. They engaged the looters and prevented further looting. It was unfortunate. We are conducting investigation and anybody found culpable would be apprehended and charged.”
It was alleged that the students, during their demonstration, looted more than 100 mobile phones from a shop at Zonic building located in the opposite of Kisii Central police station.
According to a mobile shop attendant who ceased to be identified, the students used bottles and stones to break the glasses of the shop before looting.
“We were two in the shop when the incident occurred. We saw the students shouting towards the shop. We closed ourselves in the shop. They were carrying stones and empty bottles that they used to break the glasses before looting a number of phones. The looted more than 100 smartphones,” narrated the shop attendant.