Family of slain Dayster University student allege foul play, consider legal action
The family of the Daystar University student who was recently found murdered in mysterious circumstances is considering legal action against the academic institution amid claims of a cover-up.
Ms Mercy Jerono, the 18-year-old first-year student, was murdered four days after she reported to the private university to pursue a degree course in Nursing.
The deceased has since been laid to rest at her parents’ home in Kapsait, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
According to Eng Bowen Kanda, father of the deceased, the family was contemplating suing the institution of higher learning for what they termed ‘cover up’ allegations.
He noted the family was still awaiting the report by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into the matter.
“I believe my daughter was killed in a cold-blooded murder and the institution is covering up. Nobody is allowed to go to the institution to ask questions . . . I will not rest until we get justice,” said Eng Kanda in a phone interview with Nairobi News.
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He wondered why the private institution of higher learning failed to provide footage about the last movements of her daughter.
“We have reports that there are some students who recorded the incident using their phones but students have been gagged not to speak about the incident,” said Mr Kanda.
He went on: “We still wondering why the university has failed to provide footage on the last movements of our daughter. How can a private university fail to have CCTV cameras?”
Mr Kanda claims the university had gagged students who witnessed the incident from sharing what they knew about the incident.
He recounted that his daughter liked the institution which was her preference in pursuing the course.
“She was really happy when she successfully applied and got a chance to be admitted to the University. We did not force her to choose the university, it was her choice,” recalls the father.
Mr Kanda disclosed he visited the institution a week earlier to assess, book, and pay for accommodation for her daughter at the Dupa Hostels. The deceased, he says, was to have one roommate but went on to share the room with three other roommates.
“Upon her admission, she was not placed at the Dupa hostels. The University informed us that first-year students were still being oriented and would be eventually placed in the right hotel,” he added.
Last week, area leaders led by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich, Marakwet West MP Timothy Torotich, and County Woman representative Caroline Ngelechei demanded justice for the family.
Mr Torotich asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to expedite investigations so as to unearth the mystery around the death of the student.