Garissa University College principal orders staff to report back to the campus

The Principal of Garissa University College (GUC) has ordered all administrative and support staff, that had relocated to Moi University main Campus in Eldoret, to report back to Garissa with immediate effect.

Through an internal memo, the university's employees have been advised to report to the acting Deputy Principal Finance Administration and Planning by July 1, 2015 so they can resume work.

Principal Prof Ahmed Warfa further directed that all heads of departments in finance, procurement, internal audit and other administrative units ensure that all items taken from the college are brought back.

The memo states that all inventories of items moved out of Garissa in May and those that will be moved back must be submitted to the Deputy Principal Finance and Planning.

"Considering that teaching of our students who were relocated to Moi University main campus has come to an end and the end of semester exam is set to start on July 6, 2015, most administrative activities will no longer be necessary in Eldoret," the memo reads in part.

It continues to state that those members of staff who will be coordinating administration of examinations are exempt from the directive and will report back as soon as the exam period is over.

Further, Deputy Principal Academic and Students Affairs has been directed to release a vehicle that is to ferry items from Eldoret to Garissa.

However, staff of GUC who spoke on condition of anonymity were apprehensive of their safety should they honour the principal's directive.

They said they fear being targets if they report back to the institution that was attacked by suspected Al Shabaab militia.

"The university was shut down indefinitely by Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi and we have not received word that it has been reopened," a staff member said.

He also expressed fear that their jobs are now on the line since there are no students at the university after majority of them were absorbed by Moi University.

Another employee said they will only report back to GUC once they are assured that Government has invested heavily in security at the university.

"We have seen how daring some of these terrorists have become to an extent of even attempting to attack army barracks where there are weapons and personnel trained in combat. As lecturers, administrators and support staff, we are an easy target for these people," she said.

Despite these concerns, Prof Warfa told The Standard that he expects the directive to be honoured by all staff members who must report to their work stations even as the University undertakes renovation and takes stock before it is re-opened.

"The memo is very clear and must be honoured because they (staff) are not employees of Moi University. They are not teaching at the University and should be in Garissa," he ordered.

Prof Warfa, however, conceded that he cannot assure staff of their security since the security docket is being handled by the County Commissioner and the security committee.

The Prof said that he had in the past written more than five letters to the security committee on increasing insecurity at the University before the April attack by Al Shabaab that claimed 148 lives.