KENYA: STUDENTS VOW TO CONTINUE PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT

(6 Mar 1998) English/Nat Student leaders have vowed to continue with a campaign of protest against the Kenyan government despite a rally that ended in violent clashes with police. Hundreds of Kenyan university students took to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday calling for an end to suspensions for demonstrating against political violence, constitutional reforms and lower student taxes. But as the protest turned ugly police were forced to fire tear gas and launch baton charges in a bid to clear the crowd, blocking a busy highway. About 600 university students took to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday. They chanted, "Moi must go" venting their anger at President Daniel arap Moi, who has led the East African country for 20 years. But these people were also putting their student careers at risk by taking part in a demonstration which is frowned upon by the Kenyan government and university staff. The students were calling for a range of government reforms and tax breaks. But what started as a peaceful demonstration soon turned ugly. Students lit spot fires - blocking a major highway by lighting tyres and trees. Riot police moved in only to be bombarded with rocks and sticks. They retaliated with clouds of choking tear gas. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We don't want confrontation they are just students." SUPER CAPTION: Police Officer The demonstrators want universities to stop suspending students who take part in anti-violence rallies. They support claims by religious leaders that 300 Kenyans have died in political violence since July. Students say protesting against the killings earlier this week resulted in 17 students being suspended. They also say 2-thousand students from a university campus, north of Nairobi, have been banned from class because they cannot pay tuition fees which have risen eight-fold in the past four years. The annual fee has soared from 100 dollars in 1994 to nearly 850 dollars this year. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We are having a procession to protest against Eshuan (Kenyan Finance Minister) and professors at universities that are being insensitive to the needs and aspirations of the students. We thought that being the grand youth of this country if we are not set to demonstrate against that action very soon it will infiltrate into our universities and definitely matriculates will be affected." SUPER CAPTION: Moses Sande, Student Leader At least two students were injured when they were badly beaten by baton wielding police. Many others were caught in the crossfire including two journalists who were hit by stones. Kenya has been troubled by political violence since July, when protests began over Moi's refusal to make reforms before the December general elections. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...