Viral video of police ‘beating UoN students’ under probe – police boss says

Conflicting details are now emerging on a video that has gone viral on social media showing General Service Unit (GSU) officers allegedly assaulting University of Nairobi students with police saying that it (the video) is not current but under investigations.

Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome says investigations have already commenced to find out the origin of the video and period it was taken.

According to Koome, the viral video is not related to Monday’s University of Nairobi riots.

Koome also said that police have so far recovered six pangas from students at the University’s Kenya Science College and two students arrested in connection with the same.

The police boss has warned the students against holding any further demonstrations saying those found rioting will be arrested and charged with causing disturbance.

Speaking at a news conference Tuesday morning, Students Organisation of Nairobi University (SONU) Chairman Babu Owino refuted claims that the video going round was that of ‘comrades’ being punished Monday, saying the video was one taken during the 2007/08 Post Election Violence.

Babu said disbandment of SONU would be a terrible thing, adding that there was peace at the university.

SONU Secretary General Erick Nyanganya noted that Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i’s plan to disband SONU would be ‘a disgrace’.

“The Administration should take action against those who torched SONU offices,” said Nyanganya.

Security is still tight around University of Nairobi main campus and hostels, with reports saying the students may pour onto the streets for a third round of demos over claims of flawed student election.

There’s a heavy presence of regular and GSU police officers stationed on University Way, Uhuru Highway and State House road to maintain order should the students opt to riot again.

Monday, the rioting students torched the SONU offices at the main campus as they continued to oppose the re-election of Babu Owino as the union’s chairman for the fourth consecutive term.

Owino’s strongest challenger in the Saturday poll, Mike Jacobs, has been leading the demos, challenging the legitimacy of the election, even as Babu insists he was legitimately elected.