Strathmore University Drill Gone Wrong, Strathmore University is on the spotlight after a poorly executed terror drill left one staff member dead and several people critically injured. The incident has also sharpened focus on drills especially in education institution, which are often unprofessionally handled, leading to injuries and, in some cases, fatalities.
The university, one of the most prestigious universities in Kenya and reputed for its business courses, released a statement saying that the simulation was aimed at testing the preparedness of the university community in the event of terror attack.
The statement, signed by Communication Director Betty Ngala, had earlier said that the exercise had been professionally prepared and executed, only to emerge later that a staff member identified as Esther Kidemba, 33, had succumbed to head injuries while receiving treatment.
Ms Ngala in the follow-up statement said that efforts to resuscitate Kidemba had failed. The University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. John Odhiambo and his deputy George Njenga met Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to brief him on the situation.
It is reported that two other people who jumped from top floors are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). More than 30 others are reportedly nursing injuries including broken limbs when they panicked and jumped from top floors of buildings or running into objects as guns rent the air at the institution as part of the drill.
The government has released a terror alert, saying that it had received intelligence reports that terrorist are planning to carry out attacks in high populated areas such as universities. Since the April 2015 terrorist attack in Garissa University in which 150 people died, education institutions have been on high alert over possible terror attacks, as the country continues to struggle with the Al Shabaab threat.
In July 2015, another terror drill at Methodist University went awry when six students sustained serious injuries and were admitted at the Meru Level Five Hospital, while seven others escaped with minor injuries.
The drill involved a member of the security personnel, armed with a gun and dressed like an Al-Shabaab militant, who entered the university firing shots and shouting that he was member of the terror group.