Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) has been closed indefinitely following student unrest.
The students staged demonstrations along the Meru-Maua road on Monday, March 6, 2023, to protest the ouster of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Romanus Odhiambo.
Acting VC Charity Gichuki announced the closure on Monday afternoon through an internal memo.
Gichuki said the decision was made by the university’s senate after a special meeting to deliberate on today’s protests.
“Students must vacate all the university campuses with immediate effect,” she said.
The senate also resolved to suspend the graduation slated for March 11, 2023, until further notice.
The students took to the streets on Monday morning to demand the reinstatement of Prof Odhiambo by lighting bonfires, paralysing transport along Meru-Maua road.
Police were forced to use teargas to disperse the students and several were reportedly arrested during the incident.
The students said they were against the removal of Prof. Odhiambo from office because of his track record.
During the demonstrations, a car was set on fire.
The university don’s contract was due to expire in July this year, but the council declined to renew it, citing underperformance and mismanagement of the institution’s resources.
“The University Council in its meeting held on 27th February 2023, evaluated your performance and found it to be below expectations. Therefore, the council declined to renew your contract as requested in your letter dated 20th December 2022,” council chair Professor Bosire Mwebi said.
The council directed Prof Odhiambo to proceed on a compulsory leave of 121 days to allow the management to start the process of recruiting a new VC.
“You are not authorised to transact on any capital project in the University but restrict your transactions only to personal emoluments and recurrent expenditure. You are required to proceed on your pending leave of 121 days once a suitable replacement has been identified,” Prof Mwebi added.
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