Death of university student puts JKUAT, police on the spot

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students on Friday accused the institution’s administration of not doing enough to protect its students after yet another student was killed Thursday evening in a botched robbery.

Tabitha Muthoni, a first year student was stabbed to death after she refused to hand her phone and money to the robbers near Seagull Hotel in Juja moments after her friend had cooperated with the burglars.

According to tweets by students contributing in the #stopkillingjkuatstudents hashtag, the thieves are said to have been angered by Tabitha’s decision and stabbed her on the neck. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the school’s hospital.

Consequently, the students on Friday took to the streets to protest what they described as rising insecurity in the area and complacency by the police to address it.

The students blocked Thika Road and engaged police in running battles in  a show of support for their deceased colleague.

“Tabitha’s case coming months after two other comrades were killed pains us because we feel that the school’s administration is not doing enough. We are asking the government to move swiftly to beef up security around the school to address the rising insecurity,” said Chris Njora, an architecture student in an interview with a local TV station.

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According to the students, police have been reluctant to address the rampant insecurity around the school.

We want fast investigations and the culprits to be held accountable and charged. Police in juja are busy harrassing students instead of providing security.#StopKillingJKUATStudents @citizentvkenya @ntvkenya @KTNKenya @ibra_shalle @bonifacemwangi @RobertAlai @JBoinnet

— Brandon (@BrandonBosire) February 7, 2019

I did not know her personally but it pains me. A young girl's dream has been cut short because of poor security measures in Juja, something which could long ago been changed. #Stopkillingjkuatstudents

— Claudius Chepkemoi (@ClaudiusChep) February 7, 2019

COMRADES POWER‼‼

We hereby unite in paying our tribute to the fallen Heroine.May perpetual light shine upon her and may her soul rest in eternal peace. God be with Comrades,God bless JKUAT #stopkillingjkuatstudents
#stopkillingJkuatStudents pic.twitter.com/G3jJaZOva3

— Kadunga_eh! (@row_land_) February 7, 2019