Garissa University reopens nine months after massacre, but Christian students too scared to attend

Garissa University has re-opened nine months after al-Shabaab killed 148 people on the campus in Northern Kenya.

Staff returned to work this week and students are expected back on Monday. However only 60 of the previously 800-strong student population are expected to attend when classes resume, most of whom will be Muslim.

On 2 April 2015, gunmen raided the college  for more than ten hours, killing 148, mostly Christian students.

Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Alessandro of the Garissa Diocese has welcomed the reopening of the university, but highlighted that currently most of the Christian students "are still scared" and will not return to their studies.

However, the bishop added: "We hope they will join soon."

In the aftermath of the shooting last April, 650 students from the college were offered places at its sister campus in Eldoret, western Kenya. They are not expected to return to Garissa upon its reopening.

"It is too early to imagine the same students would go back. They have scars and wounds both physically and psychologically, which are still too fresh," said George Ogalo, the national director of Fellowship of Christian Unions, an organisation that serves Kenyan universities.

Security has been increased on campus, including a police station within the college. The government has also promised a security wall will be erected around the school's perimeter.

related articles
Al Shabaab attacks village in Kenya\'s Garissa
Al Shabaab attacks village in Kenya's Garissa

Al Shabaab attacks village in Kenya's Garissa

The Garissa massacre: Stories from the survivors
The Garissa massacre: Stories from the survivors

The Garissa massacre: Stories from the survivors

Christian teacher abducted by al-Shabaab rescued in Somalia
Christian teacher abducted by al-Shabaab rescued in Somalia

Christian teacher abducted by al-Shabaab rescued in Somalia

Muslim bus passengers save Christians from Al-Shabaab extremists: \'Kill us all or leave\'
Muslim bus passengers save Christians from Al-Shabaab extremists: 'Kill us all or leave'

Muslim bus passengers save Christians from Al-Shabaab extremists: 'Kill us all or leave'

News
What a recent doctor's visit taught me about modern Britain
What a recent doctor's visit taught me about modern Britain

Attention is one of the purest forms of love but so many people are going unnoticed, writes J John.

The state of Christianity and the medieval Church in England before the Reformation
The state of Christianity and the medieval Church in England before the Reformation

As with much late-medieval faith, things were complex and there clearly was a hunger for a relationship with Christ, even if sometimes expressed in ways that would be rejected by later Reformers.

Former Sri Lankan intelligence chief arrested over Easter bombings that killed 279
Former Sri Lankan intelligence chief arrested over Easter bombings that killed 279

The 2019 bombings were the worst Islamist terror attack in Sri Lanka's modern history.

Nigeria rejects claims it paid ransom and released Islamists to secure kidnapped children
Nigeria rejects claims it paid ransom and released Islamists to secure kidnapped children

A report by AFP includes claims that Nigeria paid as much as $7 million and released two Boko Haram commanders in exchange for the release of children and staff kidnapped from a Catholic school.