Institutions of higher learning in Garissa have stepped up security measures aimed at curbing unrest and fostering peaceful coexistence.
The move comes amid rising cases of insecurity within learning institutions, which have threatened academic progress and strained students' relationships.
Through the Jukwaa la Wasomi forum, Garissa county commissioner Mohammed Mwabudzo, together with the dean of faculties of higher learning institutions, chief security officers, student leaders and chiefs, highlighted some of the security challenges facing universities and proposed solutions.
He said the Jukwaa la Wasomi forum is a call by the United Nations and the government of Kenya, to discuss peace and security in the counties and highlight the challenges that have been encountered in education.
“Garissa is a safe place and has good institutions of higher learning, with a large number of students. I encourage more students to come and join the institutions in the county,” Mwabudzo said.
He said they will ensure security measures are put in place to protect students in and out of school.
“We are going to revise and do a security needs assessment in all institutions and present a mega presentation during the next forum to see whether we are in line with the security demand or we need to improve,” Mwabudzo said.
He said they will be meeting quarterly to review the progress.
The administrator said they plan to visit all the institutions and engage with the administration to ascertain how things are. They will also engage with the public and spread the gospel of peace and security.
Garissa University dean of students Dr Rosalia Mumo said they are going to support the move to ensure their students are at peace
“I call upon students to join Garissa University as we build the nation together. I also urge all the young people in Garissa to join Jukwaa la Wasomi as we build them to be leaders of today, not tomorrow,” she said.
Garissa University chief security officer Dekow Diis said security is a
collective responsibility and the youth
have a role to play to ensure the safety of the nation.
He said in the absence of security, there is no economic progress, leading to unemployment. "For the economy to absorb our
youth who are in school, we have to create a favourable environment by ensuring peace prevails,” Dekow said.
Garissa Teachers Training College Students’ secretary general Murimi David thanked the county, saying the forum will go a long way in boosting security in institutions of higher learning.
He urged residents of Garissa to join hands and ensure that peace prevails.
“It is the
responsibility of all stakeholders, including students, security officers and
the community as a whole, to ensure the students in Garissa are safe. We all
have a role to play in this,” he said.
The Jukwaa la Wasomi forum pledged to join efforts to secure campuses and uphold peace as
the cornerstone of education in Garissa county.
