Bid to have Garissa University College re-opened now in court

NAIROBI: Two residents of Garissa and Wajir counties have moved to court seeking to have Garissa University College re-opened.

Hassan Sheikh Ali and Abdi Omar Yalahow are seeking the court's intervention to have the institution rebranded.

An application was filed at the High court suing the Education Cabinet secretary, Attorney General and Teachers Service Commission.

Through their lawyer Fred Athuok, the two state that Garissa University College was the only ISO certified indigenous institution of higher learning in North Eastern, and that residents had been unfairly condemned to underdevelopment by its closure.

The two claim that by instituting the proceedings, they were acting in the interest of the public.

According to them, children of northern Kenya and pastoralist communities in Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Lamu, Tana River and Kajiado had been denied their constitutional right to free, basic and compulsory education as required by the law.

They accused the Government of failing to meet the educational needs of northern Kenya.

"The Government is punishing residents unfairly by permanently ordering the closure of Garissa University College instead of being protected for being victims of insecurity," said Mr Ali, the first petitioner in a sworn affidavit.

The duo want Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, compelled to assess the loss and come up with a reasonable compensation plan for families of the deceased students of Garissa University College.

They also want Mr Kaimenyi to file the said plan in court within the shortest practicable time for review.

High Court Judge Joseph Onguto certified the matter as urgent, directing the petitioners to serve the respondents. He referred the file to Garissa High Court on November 3 for direction.