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State House owns up to mistakes during Garissa attack


The government has admitted that there were lapses in the security response to the Garissa University College terrorist attack that left 148 people dead.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu on Thursday told editors in Nairobi that there were shortcomings in the State’s response to the Al-Shabaab massacre.

“Did we do something wrong in Garissa? Yes, of course. It is always a learning curve. The only person with all cards is a terrorist. He knows where and when, what time. You react. In reacting, there are always time lapses. You have to react and plan,” said Mr Esipisu in response to mounting criticism of the government approach by the media and the public.

NOT A JOKE

He went on: “You have to prepare for that ground. It is not as if you are dealing with known variables. You are dealing with a terrorist scenario. This is not a joke at all.”

He said the government wanted to save as many lives as possible at the university, which had 815 students.

“It is not something you go about without challenges. You have to plan. There may be delays in operations. You are dealing with lives in this case. You want to save as many as possible,” said Mr Esipisu.

DEFENDED NKAISSERY

He defended the arrival of Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery and Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet to Garissa before the security forces did, saying the helicopter that ferried the two had a capacity of only three passengers.

Therefore, Mr Esipusu noted, the chopper could not ferry the more than 25 Recce Company officers to the scene of the attack on time.