Kenya suspends security officials over university attack

Kenya has suspended nine senior security officials after investigations revealed that they failed to prevent a terror attack at the Garissa University in which 148 people were killed three weeks ago. Militant outfit, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack at the university.

Kenya’s interior security minister Joseph Nkaissery says initial investigations show that the officials also bungled the rescue effort leading to the high number of casualties.

A visibly angry Nkaissery told a late evening press conference that he was convinced there was need for a second thorough investigation to establish criminal culpability of the officers or security committees.

A leaked report shows that the officers had prior intelligence that the university was a likely target of a terror attack during the Easter season, but did not put in place proper security measures to prevent the attack.

The report further states that the officials had taken a break and travelled from their duty stations when the attack happened – hence the bungled rescue operation.

The investigations team has two weeks to conduct the probe. The Garissa attack is the worst since the 1998 bombings of the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam.

(SABC)