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Thursday, May 22, 2003 


Journalists and policemen
injured as poly students riot

A policeman receives First Aid after being injured while trying to quell a riot by Kenya Polytechnic students who were protesting against the promotion of their deputy principal to head the institution

By NATION Reporter 

At least 10 police officers and two journalists were injured yesterday when students of Nairobi's Kenya Polytechnic engaged police in running battles.

An inspector from Nairobi's Central police station was hit on the head with a stone and taken to hospital.

The others officers were injured of the body as they chased the students through city streets. East African Standard photojournalist Hudson Wainaina and Nation TV reporter Akubwa Awori were also hit with stones. 

The attack on the journalists was condemned by the two newspaper groups' editorial directors, the Nation's Mr Wangethi Mwangi and his Standard counterpart, Mr Wachira Waruru. 

Scores of students were arrested after they went on the rampage, destroying property and stoning motorists. Traffic flow was completely paralysed for hours as the police fired teargas canisters and fired  rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

The students were demanding that the government shelve the alleged promotion of the newly appointed deputy principal, Mr Njuguna Ngatia, to become the head. They also demanded that degree programmes be introduced at the institution. 

They also demanded that the principal, Mr S.M. Kisame, be retained or a professor appointed to head the polytechnic. Mr Kisame is to retire at the end of August.

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