Some Kenyan universities close ahead of polls

A number of Kenyan universities have been closed ahead of Thursday's polls amid heightening political temperature in the country.

Some universities cited insecurity and tension among students ahead of the polls for the closure; others said they are letting the students go and vote in the scheduled re-run of presidential elections.

As in the rest of Kenya, students in most universities are divided along the two main political factions -- the ruling Jubilee Party and the opposition National Super Alliance.

Some of the universities that have been closed include University of Nairobi, Moi University, Maseno University, and Mount Kenya University.

Maseno University, in western Kenya, closed last Thursday after students disrupted an ongoing training of electoral commission officials in the institution.

Two weeks earlier, the University of Nairobi was closed indefinitely following student unrest.

Mount Kenya University, similarly, closed down one of its campuses following political tension in the institution.