Security officials in Garissa have teamed up with higher learning institutions to tighten security measures, curb unrest, and foster peaceful co-existence, following growing concerns over students’ safety on campuses.
The initiative, dubbed ‘Jukwaa la Wasomi’, will bring together security officials, deans of students, chief security officers in the institutions, and student leaders to highlight challenges and find ways to mitigate them.
The move comes amid rising cases of insecurity within learning environments, which have threatened academic progress and strained relations with students.
Speaking to the press after their inaugural meeting, Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo said that the team, which will be meeting quarterly, will visit all the five institutions covered by the program to engage with the administration to ascertain the security situations.
Mwabudzo also stated that they will ensure that security measures are put in place to protect the students both inside and outside the school, and put emphasis on students’ residential areas to enhance security and ensure the safety of students at all times.
“We are going to revise and do a security needs assessment in all institutions and give a report during the next forum to see whether we are at par with the security demand or we need to improve,” Mwabudzo said.
“Garissa is a safe place with good institutions of higher learning, with a large number of students who have been enrolled, and I encourage more students to come and join the institutions in the county,” he added.
Dr Rosalia Mumo, the dean of students at Garissa university said that they are going to support the move in order to ensure that their students are at peace for them to get proper teaching and learning.
“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 the jukwaa la wasomi forum as we build them to be leaders of today not even tomorrow,” Rosalia said.
Chief security officer Garissa University Dekow Diis on his part stated that security is a collective responsibility, not only for the national assembly but also the youth have a role to play to ensure the safety and security of the nation.
He also stated that in absence of security there is no economic progress leading to lack of unemployment opportunities.
“For the economy to absorb our youth who are schooling we have to create a favorable environment by ensuring that peace prevails,” Dekow said.
By Ephraim Mwendwa
