By Fredrick Odiero
Police were today afternoon forced to lob teargas canisters in order to disperse Kisumu National Polytechnic students who ran a riot at the school premises.
The students had earlier on camped at the institution’s gate where they created disturbance while some of their colleagues were sitting for their examinations.
Some of the Polytechnic’s student leaders had earlier sent a notice to the management to inform them that its performance had been unsatisfactory while the other students had threatened to call for a demonstration if their concerns were not addressed.
They singled out delay of issuance of logbooks and insurance covers for students going to their attachment stations, a matter which forced them pay extra rent to extend their accommodation as they waited for the aforementioned documents.
The students protested that the administration had withdrawn Kisumu National Polytechnic Students Association (KINAPOSA) funds from their bank account without the student leaders’ consent causing its bankruptcy and breach of its constitution.
This also led to delay of monthly payments for the student leaders which in turn caused several leaders to go slow on their duties thus affecting their service delivery to students.
However, the Polytechnic Chief Principal Catherine Kelonye said the students had exhausted the said funds thus dismissed the claims as untrue.
They students further alleged harassment of students at the gate by security personnel and intimidation of students by the administration in addition to the Dean of Students not dispensing his duties effectively.
