Moi University students injured in terror scare
There was a security scare at Moi University’s Main Campus early Wednesday morning following an explosion which students mistook for a terror attack.
At least 20 students were injured when they jumped off their hostel room windows following the explosion. The injured students are recuperating at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
“We were woken up by the explosions which sent some of the students scampering for safety. Three students from Hostel D and 19 students from Hostel G were injured during the incident,” a student leader told the Daily Nation on phone.
However, the university has dispelled the fears saying the 5.40am explosion was as a result of an electric fault.
“We want to assure the students of their safety. An electric fault in the students’ Hostel D caused panic among students, prompting some to jump through the windows. The situation is under control,” the university’s Public Relations Officer Alfred Wandera said.
Some students are said to have tried to connect electricity from one room to another resulting in the explosion.
A student said that some of his colleagues in the neighbouring Hostel G were unaware of the electric fault and mistook the explosion for a ‘terror attack’ after one student shouted “Al Shabaab” causing panic among students with some jumping through the windows.
ELECTRIC FAULT
The incident sparked panic at the university over reports that four students from the institution might have joined various terror groups.
It also emerged that there has been a mass exodus of university students who relocated from the university’s hostels to private residential houses in Kesses and Eldoret town, following a rumour that there was an impending attack on the institution.
Tension was heightened following the reports that students have been recruited into Al Shabaab.
Recently, the Uasin-Gishu County Commissioner Abdi Hassan disclosed that several youth including students and orphans are suspected to have been recruited into Al Shabaab and other terror groups.
On April 02, 2015 suspected Al Shabaab militants attacked Garissa University leaving 147 people dead.
Some of the students who survived the attack were later transferred to Moi University while others opted to go back after institution was re-opened by the government.
In another incident in November 2015, one person died and at least 20 students were injured following a security drill at Strathmore University in Nairobi.
The institution owned up to mishandling the security drill and later fired its security directors over the bungled exercise.
