In March 2018, Meru University student leader Evans Njoroge was shot dead by a police officer moments after leading a demonstration to protest against exorbitant tuition fees.
The Nairobian reported that the former Secretary General may have been killed because of the Sh72 million collected annually from students.
Administration Police officer Leakey Maona is currently on trial for the murder, but Njoroge’s death will remain a mystery until the matter is resolved.
Njoroge is among university students who lost their lives under mysterious circumstances.
At Masinde Muliro University, Clement Omollo Ogendo, a Fourth Year IT student was found dead near a timber yard along Kakamega- Webuye Highway in Kakamega.
Ogendo is said have been killed by campus mates who owed him Sh70,000. Two suspects are in custody.
“We suspect the killing to be an inside job (university) since the victim had a debt of one of the arrested students. The two are in custody and are helping police with investigations,” said Kakamega Central police boss Joseph Chebii.
At Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Tabitha Muthoni Mwangi was killed by unknown assailants while she was on her way to her residential room outside the campus.
JKUAT’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Victoria Ngumi said Tabitha was stabbed near the heart by robbers who are yet to be apprehended.
On July 24 last year in the same institution, Tabitha Kiiti, 21, was murdered and her body dumped outside the campus gate. Kiiti was reportedly last seen boarding a city-bound bus in the company of her colleagues’ hours before she went missing.
According to friends who recorded statements at Juja Police station, Tabitha appeared disturbed although she did not disclose what was bothering her.
“Her body was found dumped near Gate D, with no visible injuries, though she had some bruises on her cheeks,” one of the students said.
And in May last year, Dennis Munene, a 25-year-old University of Nairobi law student was found floating at Marina Beach in Mtwapa, Mombasa. He was fully clothed.
In October, Kabianga University’s Dennis Mkasa, 22, was found dead outside his hostel.
Nicholas Maiyo, Kenya National Parents Association chairman says these deaths are disheartening for parents and that universities should set up help centres, keep drugs out of campuses and ensure that there is ample security around hostels.
Kimaiyo also said the association aims to set up a proposed trust fund to help bereaved families.