Hero student who died fighting off the terrorists

Laban Kumba Daniel died a hero.

Only two months before the attack, he had been elected chairman of the Garissa University College Student Council. With that vote, it was his job to lead from the front. And that was exactly what he did when terrorists struck the college on April 2.

The people who survived said Laban confronted the terrorists head-on as they went on with their killing spree.

It is said the student leader wrestled one of the attackers who had run out of bullets but the terrorists stabbed him in the chest and head several times, killing him.

Dr Laban Chweya, who paid for Daniel’s education at the university, told the Nation in a recent interview at his Nyanturago home in Masaba South District that Daniel died helping his fellow students escape from the unrelenting terrorists by wrestling one them, who had run out bullets.

“So firm was his grip on the terrorist that more than 20 students who could have died in the attack scampered for safety,” said Dr Chweya.

He described Daniel not only as a “fervent, avid scholar with a bright future” but also “a fighter, who was courageous”.

Daniel was the son of Dr Chweya’s sister, Truphena Kumba, who died 12 years ago, leaving behind the young man and his two sisters.

Their father works as a casual labourer in Nairobi and his income was not sufficient to finance his children’s education. That was why Dr Chweya offered to educate Daniel.

“He had been like my son,” he said. “It has been a trying moment for the family as we come to terms with the gruesome death of our son.”

When he heard news of the attack last month, he, like any parent or guardian, prayed and hoped that Daniel would be safe.

“We were hopeful after news started filtering in that some students had escaped,” he said. “However, the dark clouds started gathering after attempts to reach him on his phone were in vain … He was not answering our calls.”

He said they started circulating information among friends and relatives who frantically tried to search for him but without success.

“When all failed, we sought help from social media friends. Our worst fears were confirmed when we got in touch with the students union vice-chairman, Augustine Alango. He told us that Daniel was no more,” he said.

Daniel had been ranked in position 36 among the top 100 most influential university students in Kenya in a survey whose results were posted on www.kenyayote.com.

According to the website, the criteria used in coming up with the list included the social reach of the leader, whether the leader had the power to influence students in and out of his or her environs and whether he made decisions and took actions in the past that had created change within their fraternity among others.

An avid Manchester United fan, Daniel fought fiercely for the welfare of others.

In January, when loans for university students were delayed, he teamed up with other student leaders to press for the money to be released.

“Sadly, he has left without reaping the fruits of what he had fought for,” said Dr Chweya.