A violent confrontation between students from Bungoma National Polytechnic and police officers from Bungoma Police Station has left 23 officers injured.
The clash erupted after the students staged a protest on campus, prompting authorities to intervene.
According to a police report, the unrest began on Tuesday when police arrived to disperse the rioting students.
However, the students retreated, regrouped, and enlisted the support of local boda boda riders and some staff members.
With their numbers bolstered and armed with crude weapons, the protesters returned to the campus and began damaging property.
The police initially prevented the demonstrators from entering certain areas, but the students retaliated by hurling stones and using makeshift weapons against the officers.
Overwhelmed, the police called for reinforcement from nearby stations, but even additional personnel struggled to contain the situation.
The students reportedly taunted the police, claiming they were out of tear gas and live ammunition, which emboldened them to continue the assault.
Amid the chaos, an officer’s gun was briefly snatched by one of the protesters, identified as Officer James Odera.
In response, the police fired live rounds to regain control, eventually recovering the weapon.
Tragically, during the escalation, a 26-year-old female student named Salome Ayela Wekesa, a second-year student, was fatally shot by the officers.
Following the incident, Wekesa’s body was transported to Bungoma County Referral Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The report indicated that three officers discharged live ammunition during the altercation.
Authorities stated that they are actively monitoring the situation, while the events have sparked discussions about the measures used by police in managing student protests and the need for de-escalation in future conflicts.
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