Multimedia University Students Block Major Road In Protest Of Comrade's Death

The students blocked the roads and clashed with police officers in running battles after the protests erupted on Monday morning.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Mar 10, 2025 - 11:38 Updated: Mar 10, 2025 - 11:59
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Multimedia University Students Block Major Road In Protest Of Comrade's Death
A section of Magadi Road in Nairobi that was barricaded with stones after students from Multimedia University protested the killing of their colleague on March 10, 2025. /X

Students of the Multimedia University, on Monday, March 10, brought traffic along Magadi Road towards Ongata Rongai to a halt in protest of the death of one of their colleagues.

The students blocked the roads and clashed with police officers in running battles after the protests erupted on Monday morning. In response, police lobbed tear gas in an attempt to quell the protests and restore order.

Photos and videos seen by Viral Tea revealed boulders strewn all over the road, a matter which frustrated motorists going to and from Ongata Rongai. 

Lameck Wambui Mwangi, a student from the institution, was found dead on March 9, with authorities suggesting he may have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident on Magadi Road.

Lameck Wambui Mwangi, a student from the institution, who was found dead on March 9, 2025. /X

At the time of his passing, Mwangi was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology.

Multimedia University Dean of Students David Obonyo confirmed his death in a memo addressed to the students and obtained by Viral Tea.

"We regret to announce the untimely demise of the late LAMECK MWANGI WAMBUI SST-261-115/2023, which occurred on Sunday, 9th March 2025, after a fatal road accident. The late Lameck was a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology," stated Obonyo in part.

Adding, "He hailed from Mwea West District, Kirinyaga County. His interment shall be announced at a later date."

This isn't the first time the university has made headlines over protests which have paralyzed traffic. On September 17, 2024, the students protested while accusing the university of ignoring their demand to restore water in their hostels.

Furthermore, the students protested the delayed disbursement of their loans by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

The protests drew nationwide attention owing to the conduct of the National Police Service (NPS) after officers deployed to contain the protests were accused of using excessive force against the students.

One such incident was captured on video where a group of police officers surrounded a student and assaulted him with kicks and blows. One of them discharged a tear gas canister near the student, with smoke emanating rapidly, which made the student move his body, an action that would prove vital in saving his life as the canister exploded a few metres next to him.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had announced that investigations were underway against the officers responsible, with preliminary findings showing that a tear gas canister that was thrown by the police inside one of the ladies' hostels blew up, resulting in an inferno before the university staff put it out. A report on the investigations is, however, yet to be released.

A screengrab of a student who was allegedly roughed up by the police at Multimedia University. /VIRAL TEA KE

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