Meru University was on Monday evening closed indefinitely by the institution’s senate council after students went on the rampage following the death of a student.

The students accused the university's administration of negligence saying it failed to get their ailing colleague treatment in good time.

Several students were arrested in the ensuing melee as anti riot police moved in to quell the ordeal using tear-gas canisters.

Many of the first year students who reside within the campus were forced to seek refuge in the neighbouring forest to avoid being arrested.

Traffic was paralysed for several hours along the Meru-Maua highway as the students barricaded the road.

“It is very sad that we have lost a student who had a very promising life ahead of him. But it happened a bit too fast, so we met as senate and deliberated and realized that it would very insecure for us to go through the night,” said deputy vice chancellor Gitonga Mburugu.

“The health centre should be open all days of the week but it was closed,” said a student.

“When our friend developed chest complications and breathing became difficult we rushed him to a clinic at the market and after being attended to he became progressively worse," added another student.

Dr Narman Mugambi, who received the student at the clinic, said he vomited then fell unconscious.

“He was brought by his colleagues and when I was listening to them he started to vomit blood then fell unconscious. I told them to go fetch the ambulance then they took him away to another hospital," said Mugambi

According to Tigania West OCPD Joshua Opiyo, the students caused minimal damage to few kiosks outside the university and university facilities as well.

Opiyo said the student's body was moved to Meru Level 5 hospital.

- The Star