Several University of Nairobi students have narrated their ordeals in the hands of ruthless anti-riot police who assaulted them last Thursday.
Some of the female students described how the officers used vulgar language to address them while others touched their private parts.
In a formal report compiled and signed by 50 fifth year students at the Department of Architecture, Design and Development, they condemned the university's administration for attempts to water-down their tribulations at the hands of the officers.
They have demanded an apology from their vice-chancellor Peter Mbithi, whom they have accused of letting them down.
The students want Inspector General Joseph Boinnet and Education CS Fred Matiang'i held accountable.
Riot policemen arrest a student of University of Nairobi after protests against the detention ofEmbakasi East MP Babu Owino, September 28, 2017. /REUTERS
A third-year female real estate student narrated how she narrowly escaped rape but was kicked, injured and robbed of her Sh1,000.
"If it was not for a library security officer who happened to be coming into the washroom they may have pushed me into the toilet. I can easily identify the two officers," she said.
The students described how GSU officers broke into their lecture rooms and corridors while beating them and taking their
money and valuables.
"Two ladies and I were almost raped in Room 520. They asked us vulgar questions such as 'umevaa surari, na
unaweza itoa (are you wearing underwear and can you take it off?)' while touching our bodies.
Another learner said he saw a woman lying unconscious.
"Their interest was not security. It was stealing and destroying," said a third-year female Quantity Survey student.
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'GOVERNMENT, ADMINISTRATION HAVE LET US DOWN'
The students said they feel they have been let down by the administration and the government that is supposed to protect them.
"It's disheartening for the university to sayon its official Twitter account that things are normal. We feel the school has abandoned us and doesn't care because things are clearly not back to normal," they said and demanded an apology from the VC.
The students called for the prosecution of officers and commanders of the brutal raid.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili Owino aka Babu Owino shows his handcuffs as he sits in the dock at Milimani law courts in Nairobi, September 26, 2017. /REUTERS
On the fateful day, the report says, GSU responded to a "minority group of students protesting for the release of former student union leader Babu Owino".
Owino, who is now Embakasi East MP was apprehended for an apparent reference to President Uhuru Kenyatta as 'mtoto wa mbwa'. He was charged with subversion, insulting the President and incitement to violence. In this case he was freed on Sh500,000 bail but he was arrested and charged with causing grievous harm and using force in the election.
He was released on Sh200,000 cash bail.
The university was closed indefinitely on Tuesdue to rising insecurity.
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A first year male architecture student said: "Rather than confine themselves to keeping the peace and reducing violence, the forces degenerated into the very violence the IG claims it was trying to stop.
"I witnessed a good number of those GSU officers getting intoxicated on marijuana behind ADD building. We were beaten as we tried to leave the building. I was personally forced to grope my classmate by an officer. When I refused to he beat me up. They stole our money and small electronics such as phones, power banks and hard-disks. They would not allow us to collect our bags. Please help us seek justice."
'WHAT HAPPENED WAS TERRORISM'
When police broke into the studio, a third year female architecture student said they were forced to line up in a single file and raise their hands. They were hit with batons and as they left they found more officers waiting for them down the stairs where they were each slapped as they passed.
"One of the officers was pulling girls aside and squeezing their buttocks as they passed. I saw two girls who were in front of me being squeezed and then sadly, I was the third. At the building's door, they started hitting us, shouting "rukeni kama chura"
(jump like frogs).
After jumping through the parking space they told us to get up and run. We got up, ran towards State House road but others were waiting for us.
Riot policemen arrest a student of University of Nairobi after protests against the detention ofEmbakasi East MP Babu Owino, September 28, 2017. /REUTERS
"They told us to lie on our backs on the road. One of the officers held his rungu (baton) and lifted it up between our thighs," another student said.
He shouted, "munaona nyinyi pekee yenu mnajua kusoma...sisi hatujui kusoma...ni wajinga...leo tutawaonyesha (you think you are the only ones who're literate...we are illiterate...we will show you...)."
A Muslim woman said one of the officers took her number.
"When he pressed his rungu up my thighs, I started crying and shaking. One of the officers looked at me. I asked him to help me. He asked me what my name was, where I live and where my parents live. He told me not to cry. He then he took my number and flashed my phone."
She said the other officers
told their colleague: "Mbona unambembeleza? Tuletee hiyo
zawadi ya muislamu...mlete hapa tumwonyeshe wanaume ni nani (Why are you consoling her? GIve us the gift of a Muslim woman...bring her here so we can show her who men are)."
A riot police water cannon sprays water to disperse University of Nairobi students protesting against the detention of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, September 28, 2017. /REUTERS
The student said: "The officer who helped me told me to run, which I did. I am grateful I have no permanent physical injury but what happened was terrorism."
"We were innocent students learning in our class. We had locked our studio doors. They told us to open the doors and that they wouldn't beat us if we did. This was a lie. I hope this will never again happen to any student."
Videos of the attacks have been shared widely on social media but authorities, including acting Interior and Education CS Fred Matiang'i, have said some are fake.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority also said this but asked students who were assaulted to record statements that will help investigations.
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