Garissa University's triumph: Defying the shadow of terror nine years on

Early morning of April 2, 2015, four Al-Shabaab militants staged an attack at Garissa University College, a then constituent college of Moi University.

By the time the siege ended after 12 hours, 147 Kenyans lay dead.

The attack was one of Kenya's worst terror attacks since Kenya's military crossed the border in 2011 to pursue the terror outfits inside Somalia.

The University College has shown remarkable progress and resilience since the attack nine years ago.

The university was made a fully-fledged institution of its own after former President Uhuru Kenyatta's issuance of a charter in October 2017 in a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the issuance of the charter to Garissa University in October 2017 in a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi. (Photo: PSCU)

In an interview with The Eastleigh Voice, the University Vice-Chancellor Prof Ahmed Osman Warfa said the institution had made incredible academic and infrastructure growth.

Garissa University is one of the most secure institutions of higher learning in the region; after the attack, a fully-fledged police station was established inside the university.

Armed police officers man the institution inside and outside the university, with a couple stationed at the main university entrance with strict access to the institution.

"Currently, there is facial biometric recognition in addition to police officers at the gate; there is strict access to the University," Prof Warfa told The Eastleigh Voice.

Garissa University Vice Chancellor Prof Osman Warfa receives a copy of The Eastleigh Voice newspaper from The Eastleigh Voice's reporter Issa Hussein. (Photo: Garissa University)

The institution has also changed its main gate, which the militants used during the attack, with a new enhanced face of the entrance.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university, which is the only higher learning institution in the entire Northeastern region, has 24-hour CCTV surveillance and a razor wire perimeter wall around the institution.

Come of age

The university has recently opened a 950-capacity hostel capacity, intended for recently admitted new students, both government-sponsored and under the parallel programme.

Prof Warfa said the university has come of age after the unfortunate attack, noting that the institution has grown from 700 students to 4,000 students pursuing different courses.

Graduands at the Garissa University's 4th Graduation ceremony on June 23, 2024. (Photo: Education Ministry)

"The university is also part of an initiative namely 'neighbours watch', a nyumba kumi initiative that makes communities around the university security conscious and report any suspicious characters around the institution," said the Vice-Chancellor.

Farah Maalim, Dadaab MP, speaks at the Leaders' Forum hosted by Garissa University. The gathering included MPs, Principal Secretaries from North Eastern, and the university's Council and Management focusing on improving education in the region. (Photo: Yunis Dekow)

Prof Warfa said the university had made massive progress on the academic front as it introduced several new courses, including peace and security.

This has attracted many students across the region as it delved into matters of security in all natures.

Speaking during its 4th graduation at the institution, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, while recalling the events of the attack, said that the power of the pen had finally won against the gun, noting that never again will terrorists be allowed to commit such heinous crimes.

Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Defence) and Ezekiel Machogu (Education) join other leaders at the Garissa University's 4th Graduation ceremony on June 23, 2024. (Photo: Education Ministry)

"The militants with their evil spirit were hell-bent on making sure that this institution does not rise again, but thank God and with our resilience, we are here today celebrating the graduation ceremony of 482 students among them a PhD graduate," said Duale.

Duale said that the government was determined to completely eradicate Al-Shabaab militants whose sole aim was to cripple all social amenities.

Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Defence) and Ezekiel Machogu (Education) at the Garissa University's 4th Graduation ceremony on June 23, 2024. (Photo: Education Ministry)

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu who was the chief guest at the graduation ceremony said that the government will continue supporting university education urging the community to 'jealously' guard the university.

"Having a university in your county is a major achievement. Kindly the people of Garissa and Northeastern in general protect this university by all standards because in the unfortunate event you lose it, getting it back is not easy," said Machogu.