The Garissa University College was yesterday officially reopened, nine months after the al Shabaab attack.
Some 148 people were killed, among them 142 students in the April 2, 2015 raid.
The college boss said a Sh330 million wall will be built to boost security.
Principal Ahmed Warfa said privately-sponsored students will start classes next Monday while admission of the regular students is set for September.
Warfa said all former students who relocated to Moi University main campus in Eldoret town will continue with their classes there.
Only fresh admissions will be conducted later in the year.
“Between now and then the college will be busy with formulating programmes that were disrupted during the terror attack,” Warfa said.
The principal said many teaching and non-teaching staff that relocated to Eldoret after the college was closed have started reporting back for duty.
A spot check by the Star showed a low-key activity at the campus.
Security at the campus was tightened as armed police, in collaboration with the security staff, subjected all visitors, including journalists, to a thorough check.
“We worked extremely hard to have the only university in Northeastern opened in Garissa. We shall not allow small boys running around with guns to scare us,” Warfa said.
The principal said terrorism is a global problem and not unique to Garissa. “It happened in Paris and it can happen anywhere in the world. This should not dampen our resolve to have Garissa University up and running,” Warfa said.
The university don termed the events of April 2 attack “painful and fresh in my mind. It’s sometimes difficult to sleep because of trauma”.
On security, Warfa said the perimeter wall will be constructed and fitted with CCTV cameras.
The college has put up a police post with 25 police officers stationed on a 24-hour patrol.
The reopening follows a meeting between the Moi University senate and Education ministry officials on December 9 last year.
The resolution was to reopen the college and have Deputy President William Ruto visit this month.