The Government of Kenya has been ordered to pay Ksh. 441 million in compensation to the families of the 148 students who died in the April 2, 2015, Al Shabaab terror attack. Each family of those who died will receive Ksh. 3 million.
Additionally, the High Court ordered the state to pay Ksh. 56.9 million to the survivors who endured both physical and psychological effects from the attack. The survivors were granted varying amounts of compensation.
Many of the dead victims in the day-long terror attack were Christian students. And the Al-Qaeda funded Al Shabaab attackers specifically targeted Christians while sparing Muslims.
Four Al Shabaab attackers, who were dressed head to toe in black and carried AK-47s were killed.
The lawsuit, filed in 2019 by students, families, and Kituo Cha Sheria, accused the government, security agencies, and the college of failing to act on useful intelligence.
Was the State Aware of the Garissa University Attack by Al-Shabaab Beforehand?
During a parliamentary inquiry in 2015, Kenya’s then Interior Minister, the late Joseph Nkaisserry, stated that security officers ignored intelligence reports about the Garissa University attack and that the police response was disorganized.
Nkaisserry noted that the campus design, with barred windows in the hostels, made rescue efforts harder and contributed to the high number of casualties.
The principal of Garissa University College had requested additional security, but these warnings were not heeded. Additionally, the University had issued memos warning students of possible violence.
At the time, there was significant public criticism over these alleged security failings. Following an initial inquiry, seven top police officers were suspended by Mr. Nkaisserry.
The three-judge bench concluded that the state had the responsibility to protect the students during the attack. Due to its failure, students lost their lives, and their constitutional rights were violated.
This tragic event remains the worst attack by Al-Shabaab in Kenya to date.
By Vivian K.