The Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) Nakuru Main Campus has been forced to close indefinitely after mass student protests on Friday.
The demonstrations that started earlier on Thursday, June 6, led its administrators to take the extraordinary step of closing the campus, citing security concerns as the students were engaged in violent confrontations with the police while protesting in and out of the school compound.
In a memo, Sammy Chemoiwa, the college principal, sent out an urgent message to students to leave for their homes shortly after noon after being advised by the police about concerns for their safety, that of the school community and property.
“It is apparent that normal classes cannot be conducted due to the unconducive environment.”
“It is therefore decided that the college programs shall be suspended indefinitely. All students are ordered to vacate the college compound by 12:30 PM,” the RVIST principal said.
The statement added that college authorities had banned access to the compound and that the students would be advised on when they would reopen and resume their studies.
Allegedly, they were protesting against the administration over delays in students’ budget approvals, which led to the cancellation of RVIST freshers night and cultural week.
During the demos, they had barricaded the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway at Ngata Bridge and prevented traffic, prompting the police to use teargas to disperse them.
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