Nairobi University students arrested after violent protests against Babu Owino re-election

Police have arrested more than 20 University of Nairobi (UON) students following violent protests that the youth staged to demonstrate against the re-election of Paul Ongili Owino aka Babu Owino as Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) chairman.

Traffic came to a standstill on sections of Uhuru Highway and University Way as the students hurled stones at cars, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.

Police were forced to use teargas to disperse the protesting students who claimed the hotly contested student elections were rigged.

The demonstrators argued that Babu did not deserve another term in office, having served several times before.

Babu Owino has already been sworn in to office.

Owino became SONU chair in 2011/2012. He graduated with first class honors in 2012 with a degree in Actuarial Science.

Owino then vied for the Westlands constituency seat in 2013 and lost. He is now pursuing a second degree in Law.

“I will run for president in 2027. In 2022 I want to go for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat and in the forthcoming election (2017) I’ll run for the Westlands parliamentary seat. I have the finances to foot the expenses,” he has previously said.