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University of Nairobi suspends 137 more students


The University of Nairobi has released a second list of suspended students in connection with the unrest that led to the indefinite closure of the institution last week.

The second list has elected Student Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) leaders who are supporters of the chairman Babu Owino.

Originally composed of 139 names, the list was revised to exclude two names leaving 137 students suspended.

Among the Sonu leaders in the second list is the secretary general Eric Janganya and organizing secretary Apiyo Opiyo.

The list has however been dismissed by students who termed the move to incorporate pro-Babu students as pretense.

VICTIMIZATION

According to one of the suspended students, who sought anonymity for fear of victimization, the administration is pro-Babu and only suspended few of his supporters to quell the students claim that the lists was victimizing those against the current union leadership.

“Those listed from his team have just been sacrificed to make students doubt the fact that the administration is protecting Babu,” said the student.

Janganya who was in the second list urged fellow suspended students through the university Facebook group not to pick their suspension letters.

“Comrades don’t buy this nonsense Prof (Peter) Mbithi is spreading, 200 students cannot be suspended to keep one in campus! They’ll have to suspend me 200 times before any of you goes home, period! Union Spokesman,” he wrote.

This is the second time that Janganya is being suspended. In 2013 he lost the Sonu elections and was among the suspended students following demonstrations over the outcome of the elections.

On resuming studied he vied for the secretary general position in 2015, this time under the Babu Owino team, and won.