NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 — Police have arrested over twenty student leaders in Nairobi on Saturday who convened to plan an anti-government protest on Monday.
The student leaders drawn from the Movement for Defense and Democracy (MDD), an Azimio-affiliated pressure group, had convened at Chester House for a media briefing when police stormed in and bundled them in three police pickup trucks.
Those arrested included MDD Convener Antony Manyara.
Although the National Police Service did not immediately comment on the arrests, enforcement teams sent to Chester House said the meeting was unauthorized. They also cited the wearing of military fatigue by student leaders.
MDD’s Manyara had called for a press meeting to declare that the Kenya University Students Organization (KUSO) will join in protests called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
“With me are student leaders drawn from all parts of the country and we have come here today to give directions to many students who are anxiously waiting for Monday. We expect all students in tertiary institutions to join the protest on Monday.”
“We urge all students to be active participants in matters of national interest and champion for a better Kenya,” he said.
Economic turmoil
Manyara claimed tough economic times, increased cases of suicide by students and the rise of LGBTQ as key concerns.
“We will be in the streets because students have been [denied] HELB loans which facilitate daily living for students. They are skipping meals to survive. The ministries of education and treasury have completely ignored our pleas,” he said.
Manyara also accused the government of meddling in student elections.
He claimed that government had done little to resolve the unemployment challenge condemning graduates to “endless tarmacking”.
“The government promised to have a directorate of students to oversee the transition of students into the workplace from universities. This government is doing nothing to ensure students are getting attachments, internships or jobs. It does not care how they will solve joblessness in this country,” he said.
Manyara vowed to petition Odinga to organize protests every 20th days in subsequent months.
