College students in Kisii burn tyres, demand for principal's removal

Violent protests Wednesday gripped Keroka Technical Institute in Masaba South in Kisii after students turned up in the streets to demand the haste removal of the college principal.

The students, in hundreds, lit bonfires outside the institute as they asked CS Education Ezekiel Machogu to transfer him over alleged mismanagement and impropriety.

They also blocked the road leading to the college from Keroka with boulders.

They claimed the principal slid out and refused to address them.

The principal did not pick up calls nor respond to texts when the Star reached out to him on his phone for a response.

The students accused the principal of running the college like personal property to their detriment.

Others said they had not studied for months following a go-slow by teachers who had not been paid salaries for more than four months in a row

Those doing engineering claimed that they have not done practicals since joining the institute months ago.

"I have reached a point asking myself if I came to do engineering here or secretarial. How am I going to walk out of this place?" he posed.

The students alleged constant harassment adding that the principal was the reason for the deteriorating services at the college.

"There had been no graduation. We don't even know where the money we pay for graduation goes. We are only promised non-existent graduation functions," John Omboga, a student said.

They burnt tyres expressing dismay with the principal.

Gladys Kerubo, also a student, alleged jumbled finance records in the institution adding that they are sent constantly home for fees though they had settled the arrears.

A senior deputy at the college said they are already addressing the issues raised by the students.