Student leaders now involved in war on radicalisation

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan on Tuesday held talks on radicalisation with student leaders drawn from institutions of higher learning from the North Rift and Western Kenya regions.

Addressing journalists after the one-day workshop at the Reformed Church of East African (RCEA) in Eldoret town, Mr Abdi said that he had met with the student leaders to discuss a raft of issues key among them how to tackle radicalisation among students.

“I have asked the student leaders to work closely with us and I have assured them that we have put measures in place to end radicalisation among students,” said Mr Abdi.

The student leaders were drawn from seven institutions namely; Moi University, Mount Kenya University, Kisii University, University of Eldoret, Maseno University, Kabarak University and Eldoret Polytechnic.

“Recently, we have come to realize that terror groups are targeting students from institutions of higher learning and especially universities and this is being done mainly through social media platforms,” added Mr Hassan.

The County Commissioner said that he had asked the student leaders to encourage their colleagues to embrace the Nyumba Kumi Initiative in the houses and hostels.

“I have asked the student leaders to encourage their colleagues back in school to embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative. It is the responsibility of students to report any suspicious looking individual (s) to the relevant authorities so that action can be taken against,” explained Mr Abdi.

He at the same time assured that top security apparatus in the region were having a good working relationship with the management of universities and colleges.

In April last year, a total of 147 students were killed and 79 injured after Al-Shabaab terrorists shot their way into Garissa University College.

The death toll was the highest in a terror attack on Kenyan soil since the US Embassy was bombed in 1998. More than 200 people died in the Nairobi blast.

“We have enhanced security and deployed police officers at Moi University and University of Eldoret as well as entertainment spots where students frequent to curb terror attacks,” he said.

Kabarak University Students Association President Kevin Kachapin hailed the meeting, calling upon students to collaborate with security officers in providing them with intelligence reports.

“Students play a big role in enhancing the security of this country. I am appealing to my fellow students to shun away from any activities that promote extremism,” said Mr Kachapin.