Kenyans should plan well for security drills

That a security drill went so awry and led to death and injury at Strathmore University is unfortunate. The question is; was the death and injury avoidable? Because apparently, there was a stampede after students and workers panicked when gunshots unexpectedly rent the air during the drill staged to gauge the university community's alertness and preparedness were a terrorist attack to occur.

It is too early to point an accusing finger at the university administration or the Kenya Police officers who supervised the drill. It is heartening though that the university has instituted investigations into the matter and promised to learn from the mistakes committed. Moreover, its show of empathy to the affected is comforting and reassuring. But the hard questions never go away. Because though the community had been alerted about the drill, evidently, death and injury would have been avoided through better sensitisation.

Perhaps the university administration had seen the gaps during the attacks at Westgate Mall, Mpeketoni town and at Garissa University which showed how unprepared Kenyans were in an emergency situation. In these attacks hundreds were killed. Though the death and the injuries at Strathmore are regrettable, the need for security drills far much outweighs the lack of it.

Yet despite that, proper planning ought to be made to preclude such injuries and death.