Addressing journalists at the University on Wednesday, the VC said he used his office escape route innocently thinking they were under a terror attack/MIKE KARIUKI
Addressing journalists at the University on Wednesday, the VC said he used his office escape route innocently thinking they were under a terror attack.
“I am speaking very honestly. My office is in the other side of campus. So, when all this started, I was not aware and I had to use my escape route,” he stated.
“We had been trained on what to do in case these guys (terrorist) shows up …after a while I got to know that it was a drill.”
He however said a team being formed by the University Council to probe the matter, will establish why he was not informed and whether that is the acceptable procedure during security drills.
He has apologised over the failures that led to the tragic incident saying the management takes full responsibility.
“On behalf of the Strathmore University Management Board, I offer an unreserved apology to every student, parent, family, colleague and stakeholder for the unfortunate outcome of the security drill that was carried out in the university,” he said.
Police have started questioning the management of the University.
Detectives from Nairobi Area and Lang’ata Police station visited the institution to take stock of what happened during the tragic security drill.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino on Tuesday blamed the University for failing to inform top security organs in the country about the planned drill.
According to Owino, the top security organs were not aware of the drill and in fact disaster teams put in place to respond during terror attacks initially thought the drill was an actual drill.
“All agencies ought to be informed that such an incident will take place. Like in the incident, there are possibilities of even the military sending specialised units and that would find us in a very awkward position. Where you find security agencies fighting each other and yet it was a drill,” he warned.
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