2 Garissa colleges remain shut as Kenya prepares against al-Shabaab terror threat

Kenya has announced that two colleges in Garissa will remain closed until recommendations of the county security committee are implemented in order to prevent a repeat of the April 2nd al-Shabaab attack that left almost 150 students dead.

The affected institutions are the management of Garissa Teachers College and North Eastern Province Technical Training Institute, both among institutions of higher learning believed to be targeted by al-Shabaab, the same group responsible for the April attack.

According to The Star, the postponement was announced yesterday after a meeting between the country's security committee and management of both colleges.

The measures to be implemented include reinforcement of their perimeter fence with 'mathenge' thorny bushes, trimming overgrown trees to ensure security officers' surveillance of the compound is not obstructed and replacement of faulty security lights.

Acting county commissioner James Kianda said told pressmen in his office that security is a major concern of the government.

"Security of all learning institutions, whether private or public, is of utmost concern to the government," he said.

"We will make sure every student feels secure."

"The institutions should provide IDs to all members of staff and students," Kianda said.

It will be recalled that nearly 150 students of the Garissa University College, Carissa, Kenya, were killed by Somali al-Shabaab militants who stormed the school and hunted down Christian students.

It latter called the attack an “operation against the infidels” in statement issued after the attack.

The attack left the world shocked and has been described as the worst terrorist attack in Kenya since the 1998 bombing of the United States Embassy and the September 2013, Westgate mall attack that left 67 people dead and several others injured.

Kenya will be careful to prevent a repeat with the town of Garissa being just about 90 miles from the Somali border where the militants hold sway.

In a recent report, the New York Times claims the Kenyan government is considering building a 424-mile-wall across the entire Somali border.