Garissa Universally College scored another first by participating in the Kenya Library Association (KLA) international Conference which was held on 27th July to 29th July 2016 at Nairobi Safari Club Hotel. This was in line with KLA’s mandate of striving to be a leading professional body for Librarians, Archivist, Information Specialists, and knowledge managers in Eastern Africa. The theme of the Conference was “Postmodern Information and Knowledge Impact on Organizational Growth and Development”.

GUC was represented by Dr. Iddi Juma who is the Acting University Librarian and Ms Rukiya Abdi also from the Library Department. The two presented a paper on The Impact of the Internet on Postgraduate Research: A Global Perspective which registered a lot of positive feedback. The paper delved into the contribution of the internet hype in helping institutions of higher learning improve the quality of learning at graduate levels with a view to fostering it for a better future. The paper which was published in the The Maktaba Vol. 5 No. 1 0f 2016 – a peer reviewed journal of KLA, recommends that developing economies must increase their investment in ICTs and promotional initiatives to foster higher levels of internet usage by researchers. It avers that Kenya in particular should expedite the ongoing ICT infrastructure, Open Access and Institutional Repositories initiatives to increase the web presence of institutions of higher learning. Above all, Kenya should invest more on research on behavioural response to internet to improve its volume and quality of usage.

The subthemes of the conference included: Effectiveness of information as a basis for decision making in organizations; Impact of knowledge management on organizational culture for business or public organizations; Disruptive innovations and the growing knowledge economy with shifting policies and priorities; Library security Vs impending terrorist attacks; Knowledge trends that will recreate a smart world; Library leadership trends; Library as business tool in revenue generation; Re-engineering of services and resources in the library to meet the ever changing demands; Knowledge management and organizational culture in dynamic world; The way forward for public libraries; Borderless librarianship.

The first anniversary of Garissa University College attack was held on April 2, 2016 at the University College grounds. The forum was attended by hundreds of people drawn from all walks of life. The event started off with a five-kilometre marathon in remembrance of 142 students and 6 soldiers who were killed in the attack. The marathon was intended to bring cohesion and integration between Kenyans after one of the worst terror attacks in the country.

The visitors were welcomed by the University College Principal Prof Osman Ahmed Warfa, who said that he had been touched by the overwhelming support the institution received during the attack from the national and local county governments. He also appreciate the support that the institution received from national and international community.

Both political and religious leaders drawn from the local community led by the National Assembly Majority Leader who is also the Garissa Township MP Hon. Aden Duale participated in the five-kilometre marathon which kicked off at 7.45 am. 

Garissa University College was on 21st May 2016 honoured with a visit from the Head Of State, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. The president was in the company of other senior Government officials including Deputy President Hon. William Ruto and Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Hon. Aden Duale. Other leaders were: Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, Ministry of Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Education Principal Secretary Prof. Colleta Suda.

Garissa University College was represented by a high powered team led by the College Council Chairman Amb. Dr. Hukka Wario, Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof Richard Mibey and the Acting Principal Prof Osman Ahmed Warfa.

During the visit, the President commissioned the construction of a mega student hostel projected to accommodate more than 1000 students. This is expected to greatly enhance the capacity of the University College to admit more students and generate more income to support other ongoing development projects.

The President also commissioned borehole drilling works as part of the GUC water project funded by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. During the commissioning, the President was received by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Hon. Eugene Wamalwa. The project is expected to alleviate the shortage of water that the College has frequently suffered from thus affecting many internal utilities including catering, sanitation, construction and irrigation.

For the second year running, Garissa University College participated in the 14^th Exhibition by Kenya Universities organised by the Commission for University Education with pomp and colour. The exhibition which was held from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th March 2016 at the Flamingo Beach Resort and SPA situated in Shanzu, Mombasa County with the theme Celebrating expansion of university education through diversity and integration, brought together all universities in Kenya to showcase their programmes, research products and innovations. The forum attracted a large audience mainly from surrounding schools. The opening ceremony was graced by Hon. Lewa Tendai Mtana, the Executive Secretary of Education & Children in the County Government of Mombasa.