April 3, 2025 (Prime Africa News) – On April 2, 2015, the morning stillness at Garissa University College was abruptly shattered by gunfire as armed militants launched one of Kenya’s deadliest terrorist attacks. The assault left 148 people dead, many of whom were students with bright futures ahead of them. A decade later, the survivors and families of the victims are still reeling from the emotional and physical scars, grappling not only with the loss of loved ones but also the lingering effects of trauma and a harsh reality of unemployment.
In the peaceful village of Naitiri, Bungoma County, the Wafula family continues to mourn their son, Edward Wafula, who was among the victims of the attack. Edward’s father, once a proud and optimistic man, lost his sight in the years following the tragedy. Overwhelmed by grief and stress, he is unable to see the world that once offered him hope.
“Edward was our beacon of hope,” says his mother, Jessica Nangami. “He was supposed to be the one to uplift us from poverty, but we lost him, and now we have nothing.”
For the Wafula family, like so many others, education had been seen as the key to escaping the cycle of poverty. Edward’s death not only extinguished their dreams but left the family in a financial and emotional void.
Maximilla Okello, who was appointed as the Western Regional Coordinator for Trauma Counselling for survivors after the attack, has witnessed firsthand the ongoing struggles of those affected.
“Ten years later, many of these young people are still jobless. Some are suffering from untreated trauma, while others are being mocked for having university degrees but no employment,” she explains.
While some survivors, like Rebeca Mulunda, have managed to find work, the emotional scars remain deep. Rebeca, who became a teacher after the attack, still experiences crippling anxiety.
“I cannot live in a storey-building; it brings back too many memories of that morning. Every loud noise, every large gathering, it takes me right back,” she confesses.
Despite her efforts to move forward, Rebeca’s plight is far from unique. Countless survivors are still unemployed, struggling to make ends meet while battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a lack of mental health support.
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Ramadhan Tasike, a graduate in Computer Science, remains jobless despite completing a government internship last year. Having applied for over 20 positions without success, he expresses the frustration shared by many survivors.
“I’ve applied for so many jobs, but none of them have come through,” says Ramadhan. “If only the government could offer us opportunities, it would help us rebuild our lives.”
The survivors and the families of the deceased are united in their sense of abandonment. Over the years, promises of compensation and support from the government have gone unfulfilled. Many families lost their sole breadwinners in the attack, leaving them without financial support or a clear path forward.
In an effort to cope with their trauma, survivors have formed a support group, Garissa University Survivors Western Region. The group has become a lifeline, offering each other solace and solidarity. Last year, they gathered at Bungoma High School to plant trees as a memorial for their fallen colleagues.
Yet, despite their enduring pain, the cries of the survivors and the families of the deceased have remained unanswered. As Kenya marks a decade since the attack, their demand for acknowledgment, justice, and the support needed to rebuild their lives has never been more urgent.
The government’s failure to follow through on its promises is a stark reminder that, for many, the fight for justice and healing is far from over. The survivors continue to wait, hoping that one day, their voices will be heard, and their suffering acknowledged.
As the nation reflects on the tragic loss of 148 lives, it is crucial that the survivors and the families of the victims are not forgotten. They need not only recognition of their pain but also tangible support to help them rebuild their shattered lives.
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