Kwale police take cyber computer, investigate ‘threat email’ about university campus

KENYA: Police in Kwale have confiscated a computer from a cybercafé in Ukunda , Kwale County to analyse it following revelations that it was used to send an email to on details of a university campus in the tourist resort town to an unknown destination.

Officials feel the content of the e-mail constitute a sectarian based threat on the campus deserving an investigation.

The police have opened a criminal investigation because the e-mail suggested that Muslims were marginalised at the institution built within the Muslim dominated Kwale County.

Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) Vice chancellor, Prof Josphat Mwatela told The Standard that owners of the cybercafé had reported seeing a hanging email on Saturday after a blackout with details on the campus which they considered as scaring.

''An unknown individual had accessed the cybercafé to send an email which was not sent to destination after a power outage. The unknown person is said to have left the cyber café in a hurry and when owners of the premises opened shop the following day , they stumbled on the email and alerted our administration in Ukunda,'' Prof Mwatela said.

He said that some of the details in the email which they have since shared with the Police indicated that the sender had written about the TUM Ukunda Campus and even went ahead and wrote that the Muslim population was being marginalized.

''We have taken all the necessary steps and liaised with the Kwale County Commissioner, Mr Evans Achoki and Police who have made an undertaking to beef up security in and around our satellite campus which has a student population of over 200,'' he said.

Even as the University VC gave the assurance, students at the campus are living in fear following the e-mail.

Students did not spend the night in their hostels and sought accommodation from neighbors.

"The person who was typing the letter was giving all the information about our institution regarding the operations and the population of the students" said Frankline Shiala, a student at the campus.

The students are lamenting that the administration has done little to ensure the safety and security of their stay at school.

"When the administration learnt about the issue we were told when the attackers come, we hurl stones at them and run away using the back exit," another student who did not wish to be identified said.

The students now fear getting back to the hostels at night and want the government to intervene before it is too late.

Security officials in the County say that they have increased patrol in the area and there is no need to worry and that they will thoroughly investigate the issue.

But Monday the Msambweni DCIO Edwin Kamau claimed reports of the e-mail is "just a rumour but we are on top of things," without elaborating.