Garissa University Attack; Improved Security Measures Three Years On

EVENT; On 2 April 2015, gunmen linked to the Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia stormed the Garissa University College in Garissa, Kenya, killing 148 people, and injuring 79 others. Majority of those killed and injured were students.

Unlike the past years, there was no celebration on 2/4/2018. The University Vice chancellor Osman Warfa said such celebrations and anniversaries only bring back bad memories.

Since the attack, the University has risen from the yoke of fear and subsequently showing the militants of the institutions’ resilient. The University VC noted that the institution has put incident behind it and now determined to make the institution great again.

RAFT MEASURES

Three years on, the Garissa University has put raft measure to ensure security in the institution remains all high.

1. Starting from the gate, it manned by heavily armed police offices while there are other scouts from all the corners of the university.
2. The institution has an Administration Police post headed by a chief inspector at any given time.
3. A perimeter wall is being constructed which once complete.
4. The wall also to be fitted with razor wires and 24-hour CCTVs (surveillance cameras).
5. The institution also in the process of constructing three watch towers that will be manned by armed security officers at all times.
6. There is a biometric gadget that has details of all students and staff at the university has been installed at the gate (used to do the search).
7. The gadget is manned by Administration Police officers and private security guards.
8. All the vehicles entering the institution are also searched at the entrance and occupants frisked.

Overall, the Kenyan government has enhanced security in North Eastern region with the appointment of former ambassador Mohamud Saleh as the regional commissioner after the attack.

Also, community policing has helped in improving the security at the university and also for the community near the institution

In October 2017, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded Garissa University College in Garissa a charter, thus making it an autonomous university.

By doing so, President Kenyatta was sending a clear message to the terror group that Kenya will not succumb to the terrorist actions.