12 Universities Pay Vigil To Pwani University Students Killed In Accident [PHOTOS]

Since the tragic Pwani University bus accident that occurred on Thursday, March 30 killing 18 people, universities across the country have been mourning their fallen comrades through night vigils on their respective campuses.

On Friday, April 7, hundreds of students from various universities across the country paid homage to those who perished in the grisly accident by gathering at the office of the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) council under the University of Nairobi (UoN).

Photos sent to Viral Tea showed the students gathering around and lighting candles which they placed on the ground as a sign of respect, following the trend that has seen 12 universities stage night vigils in the weeks that followed the tragic accident.

Students gather around candles placed during a night vigil at the University of Nairobi on April 7, 2023 in memory of the Pwani University students who perished in the March 30, 2023 accident in Naivasha. /RACHAEL TABITHA

Antony Buluma Samba, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA), joined the students gathered at UoN and urged them to remain united and not to be shaken as the situation shall pass.

"I really sympathize with the parents, teachers and the Pwani University fraternity at large, this should have been avoided but we accept the will of God," said Samba.

The occasion themed Honouring and upholding the spirit of comradeship in the memory of fallen Pwani University students has been taking place every evening across all learning institutions in memory of the Pwani University students.

A student places a candle during a night vigil at the University of Nairobi on April 7, 2023, in memory of the Pwani University students who perished in the March 30, 2023 accident in Naivasha. /RACHAEL TABITHA

The Institutions that have so far held vigils include Masinde Muliro University (MMU), Meru University, Co-operative University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Kenyatta University (KU), and Karatina University.

Others include Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Kiriri University, Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology and KCA University.

Pwani University, in response to the accident, moved to temporarily close its campus in Kilifi County on Saturday, April 1 and directed its students to travel home immediately, adding that it would reopen on Monday, April 17.

The university further explained that in light of the accident, it became apparent that teaching and learning were drastically affected. In addition, the institution noted that students may not be in a state of mind to sit for the forthcoming End of Semester Examinations.

"As a result of this, the Pwani University Senate at its meeting held on 15 April 2023 decided to re-organize the Semester II, 2022/23 Academic Year Almanac to allow students and staff to mourn, undergo counselling and trauma management in order to cope with the prevailing circumstances and also to heal," the statement added.

The academic year almanac was re-organized as follows; -

1. Examinations will begin on May 2, 2023, and end on May 12, 2023
2. Graduation for the 2019 cohort still remains in December 2023
3. Teaching Practice and Field Attachments will start on May 15, 2023