UoN students in a lecture hall with anti-riot police officers. [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
President of the Students' union at Strathmore University has come to the defense of University of Nairobi counterparts following the recent attack of the institution by police officers.
While wishing the injured students quick recovery, student president Alex Ndegwa casstigated the action by police and said everyone involved must be brought to book.
Here is his letter:
"We as student leaders from Strathmore, USIU-Africa, Daystar and Riara universities are saddened by the alleged reports of police brutality on innocent University of Nairobi students on September28th, 2017. Our universities ought to be safe havens and conducive environments for students to learn and define their future. Any action by anyone or any authority that threatens this sanctity should be vehemently opposed.
We appreciate the day-to-day efforts and sacrifices made by our police in maintaining law and order and defending the citizens of this great country. We want to be very clear that we are not anti-police but we are strongly anti-police brutality. Every citizen, inclusive of students, has a constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate and the use of force on unarmed students violates their constitutional rights. The future of students and young people in this country, lies greatly in the promise that their constitutional rights shall always be protected and that the state will always act in their best interests. We as students cannot be trained and taught on how to live in a democracy if we are not getting the opportunity to live in one today. We therefore urge the government to live up to that promise by investigating the allegations and acting accordingly.
We also appeal to our fellow students not to be vessels for politicians and instead, to be true patriots with Kenya’s best interests at heart. To respect each other’s political views and each other’s political rights. There’s no perfect time for we as students and young people to stand up for what is right, and that isn’t standing beside our politicians and being used at their own pleasure, but it’s standing up for a better country and our own betterment.
Lastly, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr, hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Kenya is our home and if anything happens to it, it affects us directly. Let’s stand in solidarity for a better country, united by our differences, guided by the principles and values in our national anthem and inspired by the future generations of our country.We wish quick recovery to the injured students.
God Bless Kenya.
Ndegwa Alex
Student President, Strathmore University
On behalf of the following Student Presidents, Mr. Chad (USIU-Africa), Mr Aloys (Daystar University), Ms. Grace (Riara University).