Kikuyu campus hostels. Over 100 students were injured in a stampede caused by the explosion of a power transformer at University of Nirobi's Kikuyu campus. Some of the students who mistook the 4am explosion for a terrorist attack jumped from as high as the sixth floor.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Over 100 students from the University of Nairobi were Sunday morning injured following a stampede after a power transformer exploded.
The 4am incident which happened at the university’s Kikuyu campus caused confusion and panic as many students mistook the explosion for a terrorist attack.
This forced students to scamper for safety with many jumping from as high as the sixth floor of their hostels.
Many sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital.
About 100 were admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital while others were taken to St Teresa and Karen hospitals.
Initial reports indicated that several of them were critically injured.
The stampede was caused by fears among students that the loud noise from the explosion of the transformer could have been an attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists.
This comes two weeks after 148 people died at the Garissa University College following an attack by the Somalia-based terrorist group.
Reacting to the news, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua wished the injured students quick recovery, saying their reaction was understandable due to prevailing circumstances.
"So sad but understandable in these unpredictable times. (I) Wish them quick recovery," Ms Karua tweeted.