Kisii County traders now want the Gusii Institute of Technology (GIT) to take responsibility for alleged looting by rioting students that left scores of them with heavy losses.
Speaking to HiviSasa.com on Friday, they condemned the incident and accused students of trespass that also saw many of them lose revenues for fear that they could be attacked.
They said suing the institution at Kisii law courts may be an alternative solution if the institution’s administration did not step in and compensate those who were affected by the riots which lasted for over 24 hours since Thursday.
“We want to put it clear that students from GIT trespassed and infringed the rights of innocent people. They have looted from shops and hotels in this suburb causing immense losses to our colleagues,” said Evans Ndemo.
“We want the administration to consider compensating those who lost their properties to errant students or we sue them in court if they do not respond,” he added.
However, secretary general of the student body rubbished the claims and instead blamed imposters on the looting, defending his fellow students that they were only engaging the police following the death of two students in a road accident on Thursday evening.
“I am shocked that business people can purport that our peaceful students looted from their businesses. Those must have been imposters who should be arrested and arraigned in court. Comrades were seeking answers from the police following the death of our colleagues,” said Victor Mokaya.
Efforts to reach the institution’s principal were futile as reporters were turned away by security guards at the main gate