Garissa varsity set for Jan reopening
Army officers put tight security at the entrance of Garissa University College on April 3, 2015 after Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the institution killing 148 people, mostly students. The college has recalled its academic staff in Moi University, Eldoret, as it prepares to reopen in January. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
What you need to know:
The college‘s principal, Prof Ahmed Warfa, said the Moi University senate had approved the reopening of the institution.
The move comes after Deputy President William Ruto directed the university senate and Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to meet and set a date for the reopening of the college.
According to the memo, lectures will begin on January 11 after the official reopening of the college and College Academic Board meeting, which is set for January 4.
Self-sponsored students, who have been out of the university since its attack, are required to report on January 6.
The ill-fated Garissa University College has recalled its academic staff in Moi University, Eldoret, as it prepares to reopen in January.
The university college was shut after the April 2 attack by Somali-based militant group, Al-Shabaab, that left 148 people dead.
In an internal memo dated December 15, which the Nation saw on Tuesday, the college‘s principal, Prof Ahmed Warfa, said the Moi University senate had approved the reopening of the institution.
"All members of staff are informed that the senate of Moi University has approved the reopening of Garissa University College for learning during a special meeting of 9th December 2015.
“In the light of the above, the academic staff are hereby recalled back to Garissa from Eldoret,” read the memo.
The move comes after Deputy President William Ruto directed the university senate and Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to meet and set a date for the reopening of the college.
CLEAR MESSAGE
Mr Ruto said this would send a clear message to terrorists that they could not win in their bid to destabilise the country.
“When the university was established, we had a mandate as the government to ensure university education is in every part of this country; we cannot allow terrorist or any criminal to disrupt us.
“For that reason, we will make sure the university will be reopened,” said the deputy president when he visited the university two weeks ago.
Heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants stormed the college on April 2 and killed 148 people, mostly students, in a shooting spree after taking them hostage.
The college was closed indefinitely by then Education Cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.
Survivors, who were mostly non-locals, were transferred to the parent institution, Moi University in Eldoret, to continue with their education.
JANUARY 11 REOPENING
According to the memo, lectures will begin on January 11 after the official reopening of the college and College Academic Board meeting, which is set for January 4.
Self-sponsored students, who have been out of the university since its attack, are required to report on January 6.
The students, under the Private Sponsored Students Programme (PSSP, welcomed the news of the reopening of the college as a respite to their diminishing hope of continuing with their university education.
Speaking to the Nation on behalf of the self-sponsored students, Mr Hassan Mohamud Abdi said despite the time lost, they were happy they would resume learning, considering what has happened to the institution.
“As self-sponsored students, we thank the deputy president, Moi University, and the council of Garissa University for ensuring the university is reopened, I will also urge my colleague to come to continue with their studies,” he said.
