A security audit in all institutions of higher learning in Uasin Gishu County has been launched to prevent terror attacks after being identified as soft targets.
Speaking on Friday in his office, County Commissioner Abdi Hassan said he has directed his security committee to provide a detailed report on the status of security in universities and colleges. Secondary and primary schools have also been included in the exercise.
This comes after residents and students of Moi University raised concerns that the school may be the al-Shabaab target. They say that students being transferred from Garissa University College should be vetted before admission to ensure any al-Shabaab members who may be masquerading as students do not gain entry into the university.
“As security personnel in the county, we have made some major reorganisation that we have withheld for security purposes to prevent unfortunate occurrences such as that of Garissa. Parents are very worried about their children and we want to be able to protect them at all time,” he said
The county commissioner added that Moi University main campus has donated twenty acres for the construction of a police station. Armed police officers have already been deployed to offer security before construction of the permanent station is complete.
“There should be no cause of alarm for students learning in the institutions as the county security committee has taken necessary measures to ensure students and lecturers of their security,” he said.
The county commissioner urged students from all learning institutions to stay vigilant and report any suspicious person in their midst to the nearest police station and their information will be acted on with immediate effect.