Kenya has on Saturday commemorated the first anniversary since the Garissa University college attack that claimed 148 lives, majority being students.
The University College has since been re-opened 9 months after closure following the worst terror attack in the country.
The low-key reopening ceremony was filled with emotions as survivors remembered the fateful night that saw Al-Shabaab gunmen storm and butcher students in a 10-hour ordeal.
A similar ceremony was carried out within the university led by administrators, students and local leaders.
“One year has passed since the attack that shocked the nation and left over a hundred students dead and many others injured. Let’s join together in this anniversary to show that we still remember the bright and young minds this country lost,” the school posted on the Facebook page.
“Those around Moi University Main Campus, Eldoret can gather for an event at the Students’ Centre from 8 in the morning. For others, a short prayer will not take much of your time. United we stand.”
Among the activities set to be carried out include a peace marathon according to the school officials.
A security post with adequate personnel was established within the university as a deterrent to a repeat of what had happened on April 2, 2015.
Sixty self-sponsored students, who were not redeployed to other campuses of Moi University, “commenced classes on January 11, while new students are expected to join the university in the September intake.”
The Government is also spending Sh230 million to erect a permanent perimeter fence equipped with CCTV cameras to detect any possible security threats.
Security apparatus are also required to carry out 24-hour patrol around Garissa town since the attack according to North Eastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh.
Kenyans on Twitter have also joined the world in commemorating the sad incident.
Here are some of the tweets as posted through #147notjustanumber;
When Al-Shabaab struck, One of the snipers was situated here formore than 10 hours. #147notjustanumber
Boniface Mwangi @bonifacemwangi Corruption killed the #GarissaUniversity students #GUCMemorial #147NotJustAnumber
Cyprian, Is Nyakundi @C_NyaKundiH #147notjustanumber Terrorism is a Global threat. Other countries should join forces with Kenya to annihilate militant groups like Al Shabaab
CCTV AfricaVerified account @cctvnewsafrica #147notjustanumber exactly this day last year, Kenya lost 147 university students to terrorist’s #GarissaMemorial
Garissa University @GsaUniversity In memory of our departed colleagues, brothers and sisters #147notjustanumber #GarissaUniversityMemorialService
Bry @Bryan_Muloni we have every reason to thank God when we are alive, we will never forget you comrades. #147notjustanumber
Some like human rights defender Boniface Mwangi urged the Government to open a public inquest on the attack in a bid to establish the security loopholes that led to the attack.
“One year after the #GarissaUniversity terror attack. No public inquest, no government official fired for failing to do their job. No truth,” he posted on Twitter.
Source: Capitalfm
