REVEALED: How KDF almost deployed soldiers to Strathmore University
Details have now emerged on how security agencies in Nairobi were caught unawares by the botched security drill at Strathmore University and the military almost dispatched soldiers to the institution.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), according to the details, had on Monday considered deploying soldiers who were on standby to the university after no information on the impromptu security drill was shared in the official channels of communication.
KDF’s Lang’ata barracks is located few kilometers away from Strathmore University.
MOCK ATTACK
Panic had gripped students, lecturers and administrators at the University during the surprise security drill at noon Monday. Some learners jumped out of some of highrise buildings during the mock attack that was held when most of the students were in class.
Students said those who conducted the exercise carried real guns and wore attires similar to those used by Al-Shabaab attackers in past terrorism incidents.
A staff member died and at least 20 students were injured.
Detectives from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) detectives have launched investigations into the botched security drill that left one person dead and at least 20 others injured.
INVESTIGATIONS
“Investigations are underway to establish the circumstances in which the exercise went wrong resulting into death and injuries sustained,” said the police spokesman Charles Owino.
The team is headed by the IAU’s Director Mr Leo Nyongesa.
One of the officers to be grilled is the Langata OCPD Elijah Mwangi who sanctioned the exercise without informing his seniors.
This would be the second time that the OCPD is being grilled for botched operations.
Early January this year the OCPD was interdicted after pupils were teargased at the Langata Road primary in Nairobi during a demonstration.
Investigations established that police officers under his command used excess force against school children.
INTERDICTED
The then Acting Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi announced that Mr Mwangi had been interdicted and ordered for investigations into the matter.
However, the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) accused Mr Arachi of suspending the OCPD through the media.
“The suspension of the OCPD over the media by the then acting Inspector General, Mr Samuel Arachi, was improper. This should only have been made after investigation, and done in writing to the officer and not over the media,” they said in their report released in August.
In their report, the CAJ recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the then Nairobi County police commander Benson Kibue and the OCPD Elija Mwangi over the manner in which they handled the January Lang’ata Road Primary School demonstration.
SUSPENDED
The Police Operation Order, issued on January 18 and signed by Mr Kibui, showed that 108 officers, drawn from all divisions in the county, under the command of the Lang’ata OCPD, were deployed to the school.
The Ombudsman recommended that Mr Mwangi and another officer, Chief Inspector Gabriel Wanjala, be suspended by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) for a period of 6 months and their salary raises suspended for the same period.