Differences among two opposing camps within Maseno University were the cause of the tension that led to the closure of the institution indefinitely.
A student who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity further blamed the varsity management for escalating the tension among the students.
The student said the administration had barred one influential candidate from contesting but later changed tune and allowed his candidature.
“I blame the administration for all this chaos in the electioneering period for students’ representatives. They brought the confusion thus putting the camps at loggerheads,” said the student.
The move to bring on board a candidate that had been barred stirred opposition from another camp thus builds up the tension among the students.
The situation was compounded by the death of a first-year nursing student who died as a result of falling from a moving truck on Monday evening after police lobed teargas to disperse the rowdy students.
Students woke up on Tuesday morning and engaged police officers in running battles as they protested against the death of their colleague.
The University was forced to close on Tuesday owing to the skirmishes. This comes barely a week after fire razed down the administration block where several documents were burnt.