Garissa students relocating to Moi University must be vetted, says Governor Mandago
Students who survived last month’s deadly terror attack on Garissa University College must be vetted before they enrol at Eldoret’s Moi University to complete their studies, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has said.
Moi University’s Senate last month announced that students who survived the attack at its constituent Garissa University College on April 2, which killed 147 people, will be allowed to complete their studies at the main campus in Eldoret.
But Governor Mandago Tuesday maintained that the students be vetted first and all stakeholders be involved before they are allowed to study at the main campus at Kesses in Uasin Gishu County.
Mr Mandago’s stand comes even after Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan said plans were underway to construct a police post on campus at Kesses to boost security.
Mr Mandago said all stakeholders in education must be involved before the survivors are absorbed into the main campus in order to weed out Al-Shabaab collaborators.
INVOLVE COUNTY GOVT IN VETTING
He suggested that the county government be involved in the vetting.
Moi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Richard Mibey had said they were ready to absorb the student survivors in a special September intake at Kesses.
“There is urgent need to vet all the students who survived the terror attack that claimed 147 people before they are allowed to continue with their studies at the Moi University’s main campus to avert a situation where sympathisers of the terrorist group are absorbed and later cause mayhem,” said Mr Mandago.
The county commissioner, however, said there was no cause for alarm over the security of students, teaching and non-teaching staff at Moi University noting that the National Government had taken adequate measures to secure the university against any threats.
CONSTRUCT POLICE POST AT CAMPUS
Mr Hassan said plans were underway to construct a police post at the entrance of the university as the campus was currently exposed to serious security threats due to lack of effective security checks at its entry and exit points.
“The construction of a police post at the university’s main gate will bolster security at the campus and its environs.
“Currently, both private and public service vehicles enter and leave the campus without proper security checks,” he said.
He at the same time advised local residents to help the government on matters of security by reporting any suspicious characters to relevant authorities for immediate action to be taken.
“It is the duty of everybody to take security matters with concern instead of leaving the whole task to the government alone. We expect to have a safe and secure country to live and do business in,” he said.
