Union threatens to call for varsity's closure over insecurity

A union wants security beefed up at a university where two workers were killed by gunmen on Tuesday.

Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) has threatened to call for the closure of Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), Mabokoni Campus in Kwale County if security is not guaranteed.

READ: 2 varsity staff killed in ambush attack by gunmen

The deceased, a cateress and secretary were shot dead by the unknown assailants believed to have been targeting the police who had boarded the university vehicle the two were travelling in.

The police opened fire before repulsing the assailants who had sprayed the vehicle that usually ferries security personnel to the institution with bullets.

Kusu TUM branch chairman Kassim Ziro said the rampant insecurity has endangered lives of the university workers and students.

Thorough report

Mr Ziro said if the security agents do not give a thorough report on the incidents, members of their union will hold demonstrations over the same.

“Since the incident occurred not a single person has been arrested and the police have told us nothing. We had called for security to be beefed up in the last two years but nothing was been done and now we are saying if they will not assure us of our security and our students then we will have to close that institution,” said Mr Ziro.

Mr Ziro faulted the police for not performing their duty.

He said the government has not provided enough security to the university as promised.

“After the Garissa University was attacked the government said it will ensure there is enough security at universities but that was empty promise because our people were killed few kilometres from the institution,” said Mr Ziro.

Mr Ziro, who was accompanied by members of the union at the university’s main campus in Tudor, called on President Kenyatta to ensure Kenyans of security.

Police post

Kusu branch secretary John Ogwang said the management had asked the government to put up a police post near the institution.

“They mapped up the area and saw the need to put the police post but that was empty talks. The place our members were killed is the same one where some police officers were killed yet nothing is being done for us to be assured of our security,” said Mr Ogwang.

On September 3, two police officers were killed while manning a church and their firearms stolen by the attackers.

Both the church and the campus are in Msambweni Sub-County. On Wednesday, police recovered an AK47 in Mnyezeni, Kinango believed to be among the two stolen rifles.