New dawn for Garissa University as first group of students report

The first group of regular programme students admitted at Garissa University College has started reporting to the institution, the institution’s principal has said.

Speaking to the press in his office, the college’s principal Prof. Ahmed Warfa said that out of the 470 slots that government had given them, some 250 students who are sponsored by the government had already reported by Tuesday.

He added that they are still expecting more to report in the near future, noting that some of the students were accompanied by their parents who spent the night in the dormitories and were very happy with the security measures put in place.

“We want to thank the government, the media, leaders, parents all the others who helped us move through the difficult period. As an institution we would not have managed to overcome this on our own,” Warfa said.

He noted that since the attack, a lot has been done in enhancing security in the institution including building a police post which is manned 24/7 by police officers.

He further said that construction of the Ksh200 million security wall would start in two weeks time.

A Ksh2 million biometric security gadget that is able to capture finger prints and details of all those who access the Garissa university college was also donated to the institution by an organisation.

Some of the students interviewed expressed their satisfaction with the security arrangement in place.

Samuel Gitau, a first year bachelor in commerce student from Kitale County said that his parents and close relatives were at first reluctant to let him join the university but later changed their minds.

“They only allowed me to board a bus after being convinced. It is my hope and prayer that such a thing will never happen again. Am looking forward to leaving this institution with my degree in four years time,” said Gitau.

The Garissa University College opened its doors in January, nine months after the deadliest terror attack that left at least 148 people dead and over 60 others injured.

This was after the ministry of education and the Moi University senate met on 9th of December last year and a decision to re-open it was arrived at.

The college was then officially opened in January but started admitting privately sponsored students [PSSP].

After its closure, the more than 650 students who survived the attack were transferred to the Moi University Main Campus in Eldoret, the parent campus to Garissa University.

The April attack was the deadliest in Kenya by the Al Shabaab militants.

Reporting by Amos Sambu