Teargas lobbed at protesters at Nyeri Polytechnic as student election protests erupt/SCREENGRABNyeri Polytechnic has been closed indefinitely, with students ordered to vacate the institution following violent unrest reportedly linked to a dispute over student elections that escalated into running battles with police on campus.
The closure was announced after hours of heightened tension that disrupted learning and normal operations at the institution.
The unrest reportedly began as a disagreement over student leadership elections that degenerated into chaos, forcing authorities to intervene.
In a video seen by the Star, large groups of students are captured chanting and moving within and around the campus gates.
The demonstrations quickly escalated as students blocked access roads leading to the institution using stones, plant materials, and other debris, effectively paralysing movement in and out of the campus.
Security officers were deployed to restore order after the situation spiralled beyond campus control.
The video shows police attempting to disperse the crowds, but the standoff turned confrontational, with officers lobbing tear gas canisters to break up the protests.
Dense plumes of tear gas are seen billowing across sections of the roads as students scatter in different directions.
Some students are captured running away from the fumes, while others regroup at a distance, despite the heavy police presence.
Police vehicles are also seen manoeuvring around the institution as officers work to contain the unrest.
The confrontation brought academic activities to a halt, resulting in the suspension of lectures and administrative operations.
The unrest is reported to have been triggered by disagreements over the student leadership election process.
The incident comes a day after Ingotse Boys High School was closed indefinitely after a violent student protest erupted on the night of May 20, leaving property destroyed and learning activities paralysed at the institution.
The unrest, which reportedly began late at night, saw students go on a rampage within the school compound, vandalising key facilities and causing panic among staff and nearby residents.
According to reports, a section of the learners stormed several buildings, breaking windows, damaging doors, and destroying school property before some students allegedly staged a walkout from the institution in the middle of the night.
Among the most affected facilities was the school library, which sustained extensive damage during the chaos. Preliminary reports indicate that parts of the library were set on fire, destroying books, furniture and learning materials.
Videos and photographs shared online showed smoke rising from sections of the school compound as residents and authorities attempted to contain the situation.
