Tension gripped Kitale National Polytechnic on Tuesday after chaos erupted during student elections, with learners accusing the institution’s administration of involving police officers to suppress student activities.
The unrest reportedly broke out after disagreements emerged over campaign activities and election processes within the institution. Videos and images shared online showed students fleeing from police officers as confrontations escalated inside and around the college compound.
According to students who spoke on social media, police officers allegedly dispersed gatherings linked to the student elections, triggering anger among learners who accused the administration of interfering with the democratic process. Some students further claimed that officers used force to intimidate and disperse supporters of various candidates, although the exact circumstances leading to the clashes remained unclear.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as students ran in different directions while others shouted slogans demanding free and fair elections. Unconfirmed reports also indicated that several students sustained minor injuries during the confrontation.
The incident sparked widespread debate online, with many Kenyans questioning the involvement of police in internal student affairs. Human rights activists and student leaders called for investigations into the events surrounding the elections and the conduct of security officers during the operation.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has previously maintained that complaints involving police misconduct and excessive force can be subjected to investigations.
Kitale National Polytechnic is one of the leading technical training institutions in Western Kenya and has in the past hosted competitive student leadership elections.
