Callistus Akello

Improving preparedness of the Kenyan Built environment for terrorism Callistus Akello

Terrorism has grown to be one of the greatest tumor that most governments worldwide are investing heavily in combating. The last decade has seen the wildest rise in acts of terrorism with many losing their lives to it. Kenya has also been the scene of various attacks attributed to terrorist elements. The most recent and worst hits by Somalian Al Shabaab were at the Westgate mall and the Garissa University College with many losing their lives. Most of these attacks took place in public buildings (malls, office blocks, universities). Had there been certain policies enforced into the design of the buildings right from preconstruction, terrorism couldn't have bit so painfully. Statistics show that terrorism is not any close to declining; therefore the Kenyan construction industry should have learnt much to rise up and act. There are loopholes in the current construction policies in regards to terrorism preparedness that should be sealed if only to make Kenya's built environment safer.