Kenya: Student Violence Baffling

…Thus, it was surprising that Kenyatta University students decided to go on the rampage on Monday night to protest power outage. In their mindless and misdirected anger, they resorted to stoning motorists on Thika road, and setting ablaze three vehicles, one of them a matatu.

They may have been a handful of unruly students, but what they did has shamed the entire university. Clearly, the public appreciates the difficulties students go through on campuses, which in some ways lead them to do crazy things in the name of venting out their frustrations.

But everyone else goes through those frustrations. If it is lack of money to feed themselves, the students are not alone. Thousands of Kenyans sleep hungry every day. As for electricity, only 20 per cent of Kenyans enjoy that privilege.

Despite all this, the suffering thousands have never gone out to stone anybody’s car, harass and rob any traveller or do anything untoward.

The Nation (Nairobi, Kenya)