Business people around Kisii University who lost their property on Friday evening following chaos that marred student union elections will be compensated, Vice Chancellor Prof John Akama has said.
Speaking on Tuesday when he visited the affected traders around Nyamage and Mwembe estates, Prof Akama condemned the incident and urged the police to investigate the incident and apprehend those who looted in the name of demonstrating.
The disgruntled students had gone to the streets challenging the election of Jeff Mitei as incoming students' president, citing irregularities before storming into residential areas near the institution and looting property worth thousands of shillings.
“I am really disappointed that students could go on rampage causing massive losses to private premises, I urge the police to intervene and bring the perpetrators to book. The law must be respected by everyone, whether a student or management,” he said.
He said the compensation will be done after property evaluation by a team from the university that is expected to table a report before the Senate committee in two weeks’ time.
“Of course property evaluation has to be done and I am expecting the team that we choose will do its job in two weeks. We don’t encourage hooliganism and I really thank the police for combating the strike before it escalated,” added Prof Akama.
The students are also said to have tampered with two major power transformers in Mwembe area leading to power blackout that has now gone for four days without response from Kenya Power.