Why the Garissa University terror attack survivors have sued Gov't

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Over 33 former Garissa University students who survived the April 2015 terror attack have now filed a case in court seeking compensation.

They also want the court to refer the case to the Chief Justice for the appointment of a bench of an even number of judges being not less than three.

The students are also seeking court orders to compel the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) and Commission on Administrative Justice to furnish them with reports in their possession touching on the terror attack case.

According to the survivors, access to such information and reports will enhance accountability by 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.

Some of the information they seek include the time the elite RECCE squad arrived at the scene and the cause of their delayed deployment which they attributed to abuse of State resources.

They argued that there are substantive legal issues touching on gross violation of human rights during the attack and therefore believe there are remedies in the circumstances.

The students also stated that issues raised in the petition are novel touching on terrorism, human rights and national security which have not been considered in any from in the country.

Through lawyer John Khaminwa, the students said the purpose of investigation was to establish whether there was any misconduct on the part of the security.

“The State ignored several intelligence on impending terrorist attacks, targeting learning institution within Garissa Town,” they argued.