Garissa University College recalls academic staff ahead of its reopening

Garissa: The academic staff of the ill-fated Garissa University College have been recalled to pave way for reopening next year.

The institution was closed in April this year following a terror attack which claimed 148 lives.

The university, which is a campus of the Eldoret based Moi University, was raided by Somali based terrorist group, al-Shabaab on April 2nd in one of the bloodiest terror incursion in the country.

In an internal memo dated December 15, the college’s Principal Prof Ahmed Warfa has directed members of the staff that the senate of Moi University has approved the re-opening of Garissa University College during its special meeting of December 9.

"All members of staff are informed that the senate of Moi University has approved the reopening of Garissa University College for learning to resume during special meeting of 9th December 2015. In the light of the above, the academic staffs are hereby recalled back to Garissa from Eldoret," read the memo in part.

The glimmer of the hope to reopen the college comes barely two weeks after Deputy President William Ruto, who visited Garissa town, directed the university senate and Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to meet and set a date for the reopening of the college, saying it will send clear message to terrorists that they can't intimidate Kenyans in their desperate bid to destabilize the country.