Security beefed up as Garissa University College gets Sh2m biometric scanner

Representatives of System 1 Limited shows Garissa University College Principal Prof Ahmed Osman Warfa (centre) how the Sh2 million security scanner that captures finger prints and details of all people accessing the university works. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Garissa University College has received a Sh2 million worth biometric security scanner.
  • The gadget is able to capture finger prints and details of all those who access the institution.
  • Security officers will be able to know the details of anyone who is in the university at any given time after their finger prints are scanned.

Garissa University College has received a Sh2 million worth biometric security scanner.

The gadget is able to capture finger prints and details of all those who access the institution which was opened last week following a nine month closure after last year's terror attack which left 148 dead among them students.

Addressing journalists on Monday at the university, representative of System 1 Limited, which donated the gadget to the university Mr Joseph Chacha, said the system will allow easy scrutiny and entrance into the institution. Finger prints of all people entering into the institution's premises will captured in the data.

He said the administrators will be able to know the details of anyone who is in the university at any given time after their finger prints are scanned.

This, he said, is additional tool to the enhanced security check by the government outside the university.

Mr Chacha said the donation was given in solidarity with the university community because of the terrorist attack at the college on April 2, 2015.

“The gadget, whose lifespan is 10 year, will eliminates the use of identity cards because if one is registered once, his details will be saved in the system which will recognise him in the subsequent visits. It will have details of anyone in the institution,” he told reporters.

University council member and Finance Development Committee chairman Mr Julius Mwamu praised the IT Company for the donation saying the Garissa University College is the ‘safest’ with police camp inside the institution.

He said the opening of the university demonstrates how people can rise up after the worst terrorist attack. He, at the same time, called upon other donors to contribute in rebuilding the institution.

“We are confident that Garissa University College is now the safest in Kenya, we call upon students to come and enrol for various academic programmes, we appreciate the effort done by the System 1 Limited, we look forward to more donors to come on board,” he said.

NUMBER STILL SURGING

Since its reopening last week, hundreds of students have registered for various courses in the institution with the number still surging.

According to the college officials, 139 new students have so far registered while 60 previous self-sponsored students have started their classes.

Some of the self-sponsored students who spoke to The Nation on Monday were happy to be back to the university after nine months.

Fredrick Owino, a third year student told the Nation that he still has memories of some of his friends who were killed by terrorists.

The Business Management student said he is happy to have the institution reopened. He said the community around the university in welcoming and supportive.

“As a student I’m happy for the reopening of the university, this shows that they (terrorists) attacked and killed our colleagues but we are here to pursue our dreams. We have been here before and we will remain in Garissa University College,” he told The Nation.