University staff and students trained on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)

The National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), in collaboration with Egerton University and the Midrift Human Rights Network (MIDRIFT HURINET) held a training seminar on the Nakuru County Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) on 2 November 2021 at Main Campus in Njoro.

The training seminar at Kilimo Hall targeted staff and students at the Main Campus and the convener was Professor Rose Odhiambo.

In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kibwage said that terrorism has severe implications as it impedes teaching and learning at educational institutions.

“It is imperative that we all participate by observing, reporting and taking precautions. Terror is about spreading fear, and when we are constantly living in fear we cannot focus on our work,” added the Vice-Chancellor.

Mr Njenga Miiri the Head of Prevention and Resilience at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) training participants on the Nakuru County Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) on 2 November 2021 at Main Campus in Njoro

The acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Planning and Development, Professor Richard Mulwa, acknowledged staff and students who attended the training seminar adding that the issue of terrorism is not new, but the danger is always there.

The team from NCTC led by the Head of Prevention and Resilience, Mr Njenga Miiri, trained the participants on mitigating and reducing casualties, forms of terrorism, organization of terror groups, challenges of fighting terror, extremism and radicalization.

According to Mr Miiri, Kenya has had domestic and international terror attacks, and the first clearly defined terror attack took place at the Norfolk Hotel Attack in 1980. The others are U.S. Embassy Attack (1998), Paradise Hotel and Israel Arkia Airliner Attack (2002), Westgate Shopping Mall (2013), Garissa University attack (2015), and the Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack (2019).

Prof. Odhiambo thanked the staff and students who attended the training seminar. “It is noteworthy that the Egerton University community is taking the prevention and countering violent extremism seriously. Security starts with you and me, and through this training, we can do our part in mitigating terrorism in the country,” added Prof. Odhiambo.

In attendance was Dr Halkano Wario the Deputy Director, Planning and Development and also a  senior Volkswagen Foundation Humanities Research Fellow at Egerton University with research interest in the Dynamics of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in the Horn of Africa.