Colleges move to take charge of their safety

**Security officers man the gate at Garisaa university college. (Photo: Philip Musya/Standard)**

Campus police posts, reinforced perimeter walls, mandatory surveillance cameras and increased student subsidies are among new security measures to be implemented in universities to keep terrorists at bay.

The recommendations follow a Government inquiry on the 2015 terror attack on Garissa University College in which 147 people, mostly students, were killed. The safety measures are also intended to guard against fires, illegal drug trade and other petty crimes.

Rapid response

Special vehicles will also be purchased to enhance rapid response in the event of a security threat, alarm systems installed and megaphone speakers procured to ease communication during emergencies.

All universities and colleges will also be required to develop software to monitor social media and manage terrorism and radicalisation.

These are some of the security measures proposed by universities in a report prepared after a thorough analysis of major threats to learning institutions.

Further, the institutions have three months to develop, embrace and enhance ICT strategy while increased surveillance and information management will now form the core of crime prevention and management in universities.

The details are contained in a document prepared by university vice chancellors and college principals and which will form part of the security and safety policy that will be adopted and implemented by all institutions.

The Universities Standards and Guidelines on Security and Safety report recommends improving surveillance, screening of staff and students, installation of security cameras, dealing with false alarms and reducing the number of places where ‘devices’ may be left or dropped.

“Keeping public and communal areas such as exits, entrances, reception areas, stairs, halls, lavatories and washrooms clean and tidy ensures there is little room to hide devices,” reads the report.

Opaque litter bins will be replaced with clear bags and all vegetation and trees trimmed to assist in surveillance and preventing concealment of packages.

The security enhancement push is so urgent and important that the report also proposes changes to laws to make county commissioners members of university councils.

Finer details of the report list specific security measures that must be undertaken across all parking spaces, buildings and describes specifications for gates, windows, doors and perimeter walls to keep intruders off the premises.

Use of padlocks will be banned and innovative security locks adopted for use across all doors and gates at universities.

Security alarms will be fixed and a single-door policy for entrance adopted with all other doors only usable for exit and during emergencies. Further, handling of all keys to doors and gates will be restricted and a policy put in pace to deter their duplication. Universities and colleges will also be required to put up walls or fences and seal off underground tunnels to the institutions.

University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi chaired the committee that produced the report.

Emerging threats

The committee was formed on the advice of Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and based on a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta issued May 22, 2015.

Matiang’i said these measures were being undertaken because management of safety and security in universities has not been consistent with emerging security threats and risks.

In notes attached to the report, Dr Matiang’i says the Garissa University attack, which took place two years ago, exposed the vulnerability and lack of capacity by universities to deal with modern security challenges.

“It is therefore imperative for the Ministry of Education to come up with a policy on safety and security for all universities,” he said.

In his remarks, Prof Mbithi cited radicalisation of students, infiltration of crude weapons in universities and peddling of drugs and alcohol as major security challenges facing universities and colleges.

The committee recommends that to keep off bad guys who want to recruit students into terrorist gangs and illegal groupings, the Higher Education Loans Board should enhance financial support to students to boost their sustenance.

“This is aimed at deterring students from joining terror groups to shore up their upkeep,” reads the report.

The document reveals that students and staff movements and behaviour were being tracked and informers identified to provide first-hand information on threats to security and safety.

University workers who have been sacked or students who have been expelled from the institutions are now being monitored and their records shared across all institutions.

Available data

This means that expelled students seeking admission in other universities and sacked staff members looking for work in other institutions will find it hard to be accepted, as their data will be available for verification at the click of a button.

“Pre-employment screening shall be mandatory for all employees and permanent contractors. Information on adverse findings shall remain on file for three years,” reads the report.

It continues: “Background checks to verify information provided by the applicants should delve back into a candidate’s past work history for 10 years and seek explanations for any gaps in employment of greater than 30 days.”

Database of staff discipline cases must also be developed by each university within two months and shared with other institutions.

The guidelines also require screening at all entry points with Matiang’i instructing all universities to install biometric instruments to identify persons coming in and out of the institutions. The system is already working in some universities and other institutions have three months to comply.

Use of close circuit televisions (CCTVS) is now mandatory and all institutions must install the cameras. At the same time, all students and staff will be required to have badges, security officers and guards will be free to demand production of the same from anyone within the institutions.

The report also wants all universities and colleges to check security and safety for all students living in rented hostels. Currently, there are no security measures for students living outside university premises.

Hotline numbers to report any threats will also be provided.