Nairobi News

Senior police officers will be deployed to head security operations in secondary schools and universities as the government steps up fight against radicalisation.

Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery announced Friday that the move will enhance security in schools and prevent cases of students being radicalised.

Under the program, formulated in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, each university will be assigned a senior police officer to head security operations while secondary schools will be manned by an officer commanding police station (OCS).

“We agreed with the Minister for Education on having security officers attached to all learning institutions to specifically monitor security issues.

“We know that radicalisation is taking place mostly in universities, so we want to put experts who will be able to help get the real root causes of the problem,” said Nkaissery.

SCHOOLS’ UNREST

The new arrangement will be communicated to all head teachers through county commissioners. The program is also meant to tame unrests in learning institutions.

Mr Nkaissery made the announcement during Mount Kenya University’s 10th graduation ceremony in Thika on Friday. 10,000 students graduated at the colourful event at MKU’s graduation square.

MKU Founder Dr Simon Gicharu welcomed Mr Nkaissery’s announcement saying the university will integrate the program as soon as it is rolled out.

“We would not want a repeat of what happened in Garissa University. We are ready to accommodate and work with the senior officers to enable him establish a relationship with our students,” said Dr Gicharu.

The event’s guest of honour, Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs CS Sicily Kariuki urged graduands to be champions against violence in learning institutions.

“Burning schools, throwing stones and using other crude means to pass grievances is not an effective means of effecting change in a country that has properly placed rules and regulations,” said Ms Kariuki.