This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
On April 2, 2015, a terror attack shook Garissa University, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Now, over 33 survivors of that fateful day have taken a significant step towards seeking justice and compensation.
They have filed a case in court, seeking compensation for the trauma and suffering they endured during the attack. The students are also asking the court to refer the case to the Chief Justice for the appointment of a bench of an uneven number of judges, ensuring a fair and impartial hearing.
Furthermore, the survivors are seeking court orders to compel the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Commission on Administrative Justice to provide them with reports related to the terror attack. They believe that access to this information will enhance accountability among State officers and boost confidence in the country.
“The State should never withhold information concerning violations of human rights,” reads court papers filed on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of transparency in such cases.
The students are also seeking answers about the delayed deployment of the elite RECCE squad, which they attribute to the abuse of State resources. They argue that there are substantive legal issues surrounding the gross violation of human rights during the attack, and therefore, they believe there are remedies available.
Through their lawyer, John Khaminwa, the students stated that the purpose of the investigation is to establish whether there was any misconduct on the part of the security forces. They also alleged that the State ignored several intelligence reports on impending terrorist attacks targeting learning institutions in Garissa Town.
