Tourists Stranded As Maasai Mara University Students held Protest

Maasai Mara University Student Protest

HUNDREDS of commuters including tourists were stranded in Narok town yesterday after students from Maasai Mara University held a demonstration.

The tourists are visiting the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve to witness the spectacular wildebeest migration which started two weeks ago. The students disrupted movements on the busy Narok-Maai Mahiu road for more than five hours.

They looted the business premises within the town before heading to the Narok governor's office to present their grievances. A traffic jam stretched from Narok town to Eor Ekule shopping centre, more than 20km away and the town centre is now a no-go zone.

When the traders released the protest, they closed their business and ran for safety. They decried the rising cases of insecurity in the institutions saying most of the students are receiving death threats from unknown people.

"The state of security in the town and its environs have deteriorated with many innocent students being targeted by gangsters who are baying for our blood," said one of the students.

He accused the police of laxity in curbing the security and asked the government to beef up security in the town to avert more losses of lives. Narok North police boss Peterson Maelo told the students the government will increase patrols to curb crime in the area.

Maelo said criminal activities can be reduced if the locals cooperate with the police by providing them with information that will lead to the arrest of criminals.

Addressing them on behalf of the governor, Narok deputy governor Evalyne Aruasa put on notice criminals operating in the region. She said their time was up and the county government will deal firmly with them.

"It will not be business as usual. I urge thugs and land grappers to reform or be dealt with as per the law," Aruasa said. The university's vice chancellor David Serem, could not be reached for comment.