KDF soldiers outside the entrance to Garissa University College on April 3, 2015, after a terrorist attack in which 148 people were killed. All administration and support staff at the institution have been directed to report back to work by July 1, 2015.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
All administration and support staff at Garissa University College have been directed to report back to work by Wednesday.
Principal Prof Ahmed Warfa, in a memo, said their services are no longer needed at Moi University, Eldoret, where they relocated to after April’s terror attack that killed 142 students.
“Considering that most of the students have reported to Moi University, most of the administrative activities are no longer necessary in Eldoret. Consequently, all staff and support staff are required to immediately report back to Garissa,” said Prof Warfa in the memo dated June 25.
The staff have been directed to report to the deputy principal in charge of finance and administration.
More than 642 students who survived the attack have since been admitted to Moi University’s main campus.
This year, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service did not place any student to the college after it was closed indefinitely.
Already, over 200 Garissa Teachers College students have declined to go back citing insecurity. The students have been demanding transfer to other colleges.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has ruled out closing the college insisting security in Garissa had improved. He said the college and students on teaching practice ‘are guarded 24 hours’.
Yesterday, lecturers and other staff at the university warned against being forced to go back to the college.
“The directive has not affected lecturers but we see it is a calculated move that could see them being asked to go back in future. We want to make it clear to the management that we will not accept it,” said Universities Academic Staff Union organizing secretary Musalia Edebe.
Dr Edebe said sit is against the international law to force someone to go back to an area that is insecure.
Some of the staff told the government to stop forcing them to go back. They said if the government is not ready to value their lives, then they are ready to be sacked.
Kenya National Union of Teachers said teachers and students are currently concerned about their own security. “They are making their choices on matters touching on their personal safety in the area,” Secretary General Wislon Sossion said.
Mr Sossion wants the Teachers Service Commission to transfer all teachers and students to safer areas.
Learning has also been paralysed in the are after more than 1,000 teachers declined to go back after their colleagues were killed late last year.
TSC has also made several attempts to recruit more teachers without much success.