Mediterranean boat disaster: '200 Senegalese' among dead.Drive Hot News

 There were only 28 survivors from the migrant boat disaster, thought to be the deadliest ever recorded.

At least 200 Senegalese died in the boast disaster off the coast of Libya earlier this month, officials say.

More than 750 migrants are thought to have died when the boat capsized off the coast of Libya on 18 April.
A Senegalese official told the BBC that survivors of the shipwreck and Senegalese associations working in Libya had confirmed the figures.
European leaders have pledged to triple funding for rescue operations aimed at migrant boats in the Mediterranean.
Senegalese foreign ministry official Sorry Kaba told BBC Afrique that African countries needed to work together on the issue of migrants, not only on the issue of emergency measures, but also to come up with longer term solutions.Source BBC

Entertainer Keith Harris dies at 67.Drive Hot News

 Keith Harris

Entertainer Keith Harris, best known for performances with his puppet Orville, has died, aged 67.

His agent Robert C Kelly confirmed the news on twitter.
"Sad to announce death from cancer of my client, dear friend and great talent, Keith Harris," he wrote.
Harris had his own BBC One Saturday night programme The Keith Harris Show and had a top 10 hit with Orville's Song, popularly known as I Wish I Could Fly, in 1982.
Orville was his most famous creation - an innocent green duck in an oversized nappy, who was relentlessly taunted by Harris's other character, Cuddles the monkey.
Among those paying tribute were singer and broadcaster Aled Jones, who said: "Sad to hear of the death of Keith Harris - sending best wishes to his family and friends."
"So sad," tweeted presenter Keith Chegwin. "A great entertainer and all round nice man Keith Harris has passed away. Best wishes to his family at this sad time. RIP x"
Comedian Julian Clary described Harris as a "lovely, funny talented man."


Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Very sad to hear that Keith Harris has died after a battle with cancer. Brought joy to my childhood."
Actor and comedian Paddy McGuinness said: "RIP Keith Harris. A part of my childhood gone."
The Keith Harris Show ran for eight years from 1982 to 1990, and the entertainer appeared on a total of five Royal, and Children's Royal Variety Performances.
At the personal request of Diana, Princess of Wales, Keith gave private performances at Highgrove House for Prince William's third birthday and then at Kensington Palace for Prince Harry's third birthday.
In the 2000s, he reinvented himself as an X-rated ventriloquist, touring student unions with his adult show, Duck Off.
He appeared in the 2002 documentary When Louis met Keith Harris; and won the Channel Five reality show The Farm in 2005.
But he turned down the chance to appear in Ricky Gervais's comedy series Extras.
"I read the script and thought, 'This isn't clever writing, it's pure filth'," he told The Independent in 2006.
"I turned it down. I'm not desperate."

Lupita hangs out with ‘funniest Ugandan’ Kansiime.Drive Hot News

Anne Kansiime (left) and Lupita Nyong'o during the film shoot. 

Oscar award winner Lupita Nyong’o was treated to Ugandan humour by one of their finest comedians, Anne Kansiime, while shooting a film in the country.

Lupita, who has been in the East African country since March shooting Disney’s Queen of Katwe movie, crowned the humorous Kansiime as the funniest Ugandan.

She posted a photo grind of the two on Instagram captioning it, “Monday Moment of Magic with the one and only Anne Kansiime. Funniest Ugandan period.”

Juuko gives Mayweather slight edge over Manny.Drive Hot News

 Mayweather (R) has received the backing of Uganda’s Juuko.


Boxing. 

Ugandan boxer Juuko fought Mayweather as a late substitute in 1999 and worked with Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roch.

KAMPALA. The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight has got everyone talking. Even those without a clue on boxing have something to say about the fight due Sunday morning (Saturday night in Las Vegas). It’s the talk of the town.
One Ugandan that deserves all the attention while discussing Mayweather-Pacquiao is Justin Juuko. The Ugandan Destroyer knows both boxers too well.

In 1999, while at the peak of his powers, Juuko fought American Mayweather but lost in the ninth round. He also recently posted pictures of himself posing with Pacauiao on Facebook.

“They are both my friends,” Juuko recently told Daily Monitor. “It’s very hard for me to pick someone to support. I want the best boxer on the night to win,” added the 42-year-old Juuko.

While he won’t be openly backing any camp on Sunday morning, the 1990 Commonwealth gold medallist feels the unbeaten Mayweather has a slight advantage.

“It’s an even fight,” Juuko said, “But Floyd has an advantage because he is undefeated and knows how to control fights. And for me, the person who controls the pace of the fight will win. It’s that simple.”

Pacquiao is famed for his aggressive punching style while Mayweather tends to be calm in the ring and score points while defending smartly.
“Styles make fights. Manny’s style is very problematic and awkward. This makes him a very dangerous opponent and Floyd must be aware of that,” Juuko added before dismissing recent local media reports that he is currently sparring with Pacquiao.

“I sparred with Pacquiao some years ago. I think I had about 60 rounds with him. However, I still meet him because he at times trains at Wilcard Gym in Hollywood. I work in the same gym, training some boxers but Manny uses the private wing,” he revealed. “Remember Freddie Roch (Pacquiao’s trainer) used to train me when I was still competing.”

Born in Masaka, Juuko rose through the ranks to become one of Uganda’s best boxers of his generation. He won a light flyweight gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand before clinching the World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherweight title.

He, however, still looks back at his Mayweather clash with some level of regret.
“You know I only had four days to prepare for that fight. I had to lose several kilos to make the weight and that affected my performance. After losing, I asked for a rematch but never got it. If I had secured it, we wouldn’t be talking about Mayweather-Pacquiao now.”
Juuko is now trying to make ends meet as a full time trainer.

Jeremy Clarkson 'will return to the BBC' says BBC Two boss.Drive Hot News

 The head of BBC Two said it is an "open book" on who might replace Clarkson 

Jeremy Clarkson "will be back on the BBC", according to the head of BBC Two and BBC Four.

Kim Shillinglaw, who has the task of finding Clarkson's replacement after he was dropped from Top Gear, said the host had not been banned by the BBC.
"It's serious and unfortunate what happened but there is no ban on Jeremy being on the BBC," she said.
"It's a big deal what happened and Jeremy, as any human being would, needs some time."
Clarkson was removed from presenting duties on Top Gear after assaulting producer Oisin Tymon.
The decision caused an outpouring of support from Top Gear fans, with more than a million people signing an online petition to reinstate him.

Gossip.Ray C slams dating rumours.Drive Hot News

 Ray C and Lord Eyez in a file photo.

Rehema Chalamila, the sassy Tanzanian beauty who goes by the stage name Ray C , has slammed claims that she has started getting close to her ex-boyfriend, rapper Lord Eyez, who she admits introduced her to drugs.

Ray C has been struggling with drug addiction for almost two years, something she has now got off after serious rehabilitation programmes under the watchful eyes of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who came to her rescue.

The rumours surfaced after Lord Eyez hinted last weekend that he is set to release a song this coming week on which he collaborated with the songbird, who once topped the East African charts with her hit singles like “Mama Ntilie”, “Umenikataa”, “Nataka Niwe Nawe Milele” and “Uko Wapi Nikufuate”, among others.

After Lord Eyes’ remarks, several newspapers in Tanzania have been running headline stories that Ray C is yet at it again trying to reach out to her ex, who almost ruined her life and career.

However, Ray C, who in 2013 said that she regretted meeting Lord Eyes, has come out with guns blazing stating that she hasn’t been in touch with Lord Eyes for a long time now and the song he is set to release is one that they recorded seven years ago on a visit to Kenya while they were still an item.

She took to her Instagram page to clarify the matter. Her post read in part:

“For all those who love me, I want to clear the air about the song ‘Matatizo’ I have just heard Lord Eyes is set to release in which I was featured. I know many will have different interpretation of this. But I would love people to know that the song in question was recorded SEVEN years ago on a trip to Kenya while we were still an item and that it is not currently as reported by few gossip newspapers”

Eight shot dead at Brazil's Sao Paulo football fan club.Drive Hot News

 Sao Paulo police have sealed off the area around the fan club.

Eight men have been killed at a football fan club in Brazil's biggest city, Sao Paulo, police say.

They said the supporters of the Corinthians club were preparing banners ahead of a match when gunmen burst in.
The attackers ordered seven fans to lie down before shooting them. The eighth man was hit as he tried to flee.
Police say the killings at the Pavilhao Nove supporters' group were likely to be drug related.
Witnesses say three gunmen stormed into the makeshift club in a working class suburb of Sao Paulo late on Saturday.
The victims were having a barbecue as they prepared for Corinthians' next match.
Sao Paulo police suggested the Pavilhao Nove group may have had links to criminal gangs, saying the killings were probably more to do with a dispute over drugs trafficking than with football.
"Through witnesses, we are already exploring a line of investigation, which is not leading us to believe it was caused by fan rivalry," detective Arlindo Jose Negrao was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
Violence in Brazilian football is a growing problem both directly and indirectly, with supporters of teams in several major cities using their club allegiances to organise criminal activity outside the stadiums.

Health- 8 Things You Should Think of When You Suddenly Lose Appetite.Drive Hot News

Loss of appetite, medically known as anorexia refers to a reduced desire to eat and it could be particularly worrisome when it persists for prolonged periods. If left untreated, it may lead to weight loss, extreme fatigue and malnutrition with its attendant complications such as increased risk of infections.
It is worthy of note that loss of appetite is a frequent accompanying symptom of myriads of conditions ranging from infections and cancers to psychological disorders. In addition, physiological loss of appetite is often experienced in pregnancy.
The underlisted conditions are the common causes of loss of appetite. In most cases, appetite returns to normal if the underlying cause is treated:
Malaria
In the African continent, malaria infection is a very significant cause of loss of appetite and must always be considered any time you notice a sudden loss of appetite, especially when it is associated with fever, joint pains, generalized body weakness and headache. The usual vector is female Anopheles mosquito. Importantly, it's advisable that you visit a health facility where you can have your blood tested for trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum before effective antimalarial drugs are prescribed to you.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a chronic, highly contagious infection that could lead to prolonged loss of appetite. The causative organism is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other common symptoms of tuberculosis include chronic cough lasting longer than 3weeks, initially dry and then productive of bloody sputum (haemoptysis), weight loss and drenching night sweats. If you have any of these symptoms, especially if you have had contact with a person with chronic cough, it will be pertinent to visit the hospital immediately in order to have sputum tests and chest X-ray done to exclude tuberculosis.
Pyelonephritis
This is a urinary tract infection involving the kidneys. Apart from loss of appetite, other common manifestations of pyelonephritis are fever, headache, vomiting, flank pain and urinary symptoms such as passage of bloody urine (haematuria), dysuria, urgency and so on. At the hospital, you will have urine tests carried out on you before diagnosis of pyelonephritis is made and then you will be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
Malignancies
Malignant tumours or cancers are also common causes of loss of appetite, especially cancers of the colon, stomach or pancreas. Usually, people with a cancer are also likely to experience severe weight loss and fatigue. Other symptoms will depend on the organ involved. Moreover, a very prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial to improve survival rates in cancers.
Acute appendicitis
This is an emergency condition that occurs as a result of an inflammed appendix. It's characterized by a severe pain on the right side of the lower abdomen often associated with loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting. At the hospital, when the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made, a surgery for the removal of the inflammed appendix (appendectomy) is done before lethal complications set in.
Psychological disorders
Psychological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa are often associated with loss of appetite. In depression, the affected individual also has a low mood, loss of interest in the environment, feeling of worthlessness and sometimes, lack of libido or sexual drive. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which the affected individual has an extreme fear of gaining weight and starves him/herself in order to lose weight.
Intestinal Obstruction
In this disorder, there is a failure of onward passage of bowel contents due to blockage along the intestine and the person often experiences a colicky abdominal pain that waxes and wanes with associated abdominal distension, vomiting and constipation. Due to the distension of the abdomen, they may experience loss of appetite or feel full after eating very little.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common, albeit harmless cause of loss of appetite. This is especially common in the first trimester with associated nausea or vomiting (morning sickness) and breast pain. If you missed your period and you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you need to undergo a urine or blood test for pregnancy. Normally, loss of appetite in pregnancy improves with time and multivitamins and nutrient supplements may also help to improve your appetite.

Kanye West Tries to Walk on Water at Surprise Concert in Armenia.Drive Hot News

 Kanye West

 Kanye West likes to call himself "Yeezus," which sort of rhymes with Jesus, but this weekend he took the comparisons to a new level by attempting to literally walk on water.
The incident took place during an impromptu free surprise concert he put up in Armenia at the edge of the Swan Lake in Yerevan on Sunday.
After large crowd of fans waited about an hour, Kanye began performing as if downtown Armenia
was the biggest stage on the planet. At one point, Kanye makes a point of shouting out his wife, Kim Kardashian, who is half Armenian.
Then, after about 15 minutes, without warning, he rushes into the lake, microphone in hand, while
continuing to rap to the crowd. Check out the exciting way after the pics below. The crowd loved it!
But as soon as Kanye hopped in the water, fans began wading in as well, prompting police to shut the mini-concert down.

Man United's Rooney in search of derby delight.Drive Hot News

 Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring their second goal during their English Premier League match against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 4, 2015. PHOTO

LONDON

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is eager to add to Manchester City's woes in Sunday's derby at Old Trafford.

A marked reversal in fortunes means third-placed United lead fourth-placed defending champions City by a point heading into this weekend's clash, although both are probably too far behind leaders Chelsea for either of the Manchester clubs to mount a title challenge.

But a top-three finish and direct entry into the Champions League is still on the horizon, not that the Manchester pair need much in the way of additional motivation when playing each other.

England striker Rooney, 29, is now United's leading derby scorer in history with 11 goals against City since arriving at Old Trafford from Everton in 2004.

City, however, have had the upper hand in recent times, winning their last four matches against United and Rooney is desperate to put an end to that run.

"You play for Man United, you want to win these derby games," he told MUTV, United's in-house television station.

"We want to give United fans something to smile about when they go to work on Monday morning, we want them to be the ones to be able to give out the banter to Manchester City fans at work.

"I think it's a very important game for Manchester United and Manchester City... for the fans and, for me, it's a massive game of pride," added Rooney, who scored a superb volley in last week's 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

Victory on Sunday would put United four points in front of City, under pressure after dropping to fourth following a shock 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday.

United manager Louis van Gaal could recall compatriot Robin van Persie after the Dutch striker returned to training this week following an ankle injury.

City have won just four of their last 11 league games but manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted he wasn't concerned about his own position.

"I'm never concerned about my job. I do my work and am very happy. You maybe have a difficult season, but you never worry about things like this," Pellegrini said.

As for the title race, the Chilean added: "Every point you drop makes it more difficult, but it's the same answer. We are not thinking about the title... Just about the next game at Old Trafford."

ARSENAL EFFICIENCY

Second-placed Arsenal will move to within four points of Chelsea, but having played two games more than the Blues, if they win away to second-bottom Burnley on Saturday.

After a shaky start to the season, the Gunners have now won 15 of their last 17 matches in all competitions, a run which manager Arsene Wenger attributes to having a fully fit squad no longer carrying any hangovers from last year's World Cup.

"I just think we are at a stage of the season where we took off in January, because we had nearly everybody available. That made us more efficient," Wenger said.

Chelsea will take a giant stride towards the title if they win away on Sunday to west London rivals QPR, who gained a battling point in their Premier League survival bid with a 3-3 midweek draw at Aston Villa.

The build-up to this week's match has seen Jose Mourinho accept publicly what friends and foes have long acknowledged — that he is a master manipulator.

"I agree that sometimes I can have something of Machiavelli in some of my comments, but no more than that," Mourinho said.

Villa travel to Tottenham on Saturday with manager Tim Sherwood adamant he bore no resentment towards his former club for sacking him as their boss last year.

"I wouldn't be sitting here as Aston Villa manager if it wasn't for Tottenham Hotspur," Sherwood said. "I was relieved of my duties and walked out with my head held very high. I was pleased with what I did."

SAINTS WELCOME HULL

Southampton continue their quest for Europa League football at home to Hull while bottom-of-the-table Leicester face West Bromwich Albion.

Saturday also sees Sunderland, fresh from their derby win over Newcastle, at home to Palace.

Liverpool, beaten 4-1 by Arsenal last time out, face Newcastle at Anfield on Monday.

How to deal with adult bedwetting.Drive Hot News

 When seeing a doctor, it is important for the one who does not bed wet to accompany their partner to hospital to find out exactly what is wrong and how to deal with it in the long-term.

Bedwetting is considered a child’s problem and generally speaking, even children above the age of seven years are considered too old to wet the bed.

However, adult bedwetting is a relatively common problem much as it is not talked about openly. In most cases, it is a treatable condition but often people are too embarrassed to seek medical advice.

What could be wrong?

Primary incontinence

Most children stop bed wetting between 4-7years. Some people, however, carry on bed wetting into adulthood.

This is a particularly difficult form of bed wetting to deal with as most people have tried the usual conventional ways to stop without success. Research has shown that it may be hereditary.

Bladder irritability

The muscle of the bladder usually allows for it to fill up before it sends signals to the brain telling you that you need to pee. In some cases, the bladder muscle may be overactive and cause you to pee in an erratic manner.

This over-activity is usually worsened by substances such as caffeine and alcohol.

Bladder cancer

Cancer can block parts of the bladder (specifically the area which control opening of the bladder). This leads to inability to control urination patterns. In addition, sometimes the treatment for these cancers can cause incontinence as a side-effect.

Diabetes

Diabetes has been known to cause increased urination both during the day and at night. Usually, the volumes of urine passed tend to be quite large which can lead to the occasional ‘night time accident’. Diabetes can also affect the nerves which control the bladder causing unusual urination patterns.

Medication side-effect

Certain medication can cause you to urinate more frequently (these medicines are known as diuretics). This is true for medication used to treat high blood pressure and kidney disease. It is, therefore, not unusual for people who start using diuretics to have difficulty controlling their bathroom habits during the first few weeks of therapy.

(This increased urination is the reason why most people fail to comply with their treatment. To help deal with the problem of urinating too often at night, take the tablet first thing in the morning if you are on a once daily dosage). People taking sleeping tablets may also find that they are unable to wake up at night even when their bladder is full.

Neurological disorders

Conditions that affect the nervous system such as Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury and stroke can cause difficulty in controlling one’s bladder.

Prostate problems

Any condition that causes enlargement or change in the structure of the prostate can make urination a problem. Most men with prostate problems notice that they cannot pass urine with the same ease that they did when they were younger and it is not unusual for urine to dribble out at night when least expected.

Urinary tract infection

Infections of the bladder can cause it to be irritated resulting in painful urination. In addition, it makes one urinate more frequently and sometimes one can get incontinent (and wet the bed).

Urinary tract stones

Stones in the urinary system can sometimes cause blockage in the usual flow of urine. This causes urine to pass out unexpectedly. Usually, this clears when the stone is passed out of the body.

Anxiety and stress

This is more common among teenagers who begin to bed wet after years of control.

It usually happens when they are faced with tough problems which they cannot deal with, for example bullying or violence at home. It may be associated with night terrors (vivid nightmares).

After childbirth

Women who have a particularly difficult labour may develop incontinence after childbirth. If there is no damage to the bladder, the next culprit is the weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. These can be strengthened over time with exercises such as kegels.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This is a condition in which one experiences difficulty breathing while asleep. Most of these people snore and may even stop breathing temporarily.

This is a serious condition which can happen in people whose airways (behind the nose and throat) are either too floppy or have a blockage.

Apart from the poor quality of sleep these people have, they sometimes also find themselves wetting the bed.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who begins to wet the bed as an adult must seek medical advice. When you go to see the doctor, expect that he/she will do a thorough physical examination (including your genitals and prostate).

They will also ask very detailed and personal questions regarding your physical and mental wellbeing.

They may order various tests including urine tests to check for infections, bladder studies (where various imaging tests are done when your bladder is full and while you are peeing) and if necessary, some neurological tests may be done.

Treatment

Although supportive treatment such as setting an alarm to wake you up at night to pee or minimising your fluid intake at night is useful, treatment of adult bed wetting must always be directed at the underlying cause.

Epilepsy awareness campaign to be held in Eldoret.Drive Hot News

 
 Epilepsy occurs due to uncontrolled electrical discharges in the brain that result in convulsions, or changes in the mental state and uncontrolled body movements. FILE PHOTO

Eldoret town is set to hold a roadshow to create awareness on epilepsy this Friday.

The annual “Angaza Kifafa” campaign is the brainchild of National Epilepsy Committee (NECC) and seeks to educate the public on the little-understood brain disorder.

This year’s edition has been sponsored by the Bank of Africa and will be flagged off by Uasin Gishu deputy governor Daniel Kiprotich Chemno.

During the partnership signing ceremony, Anis Kaddouri who is the acting Managing Director of Bank of Africa Kenya, decried the little attention given to the common condition.

“In Kenya it is estimated that 2 out of every 100 people are living with epilepsy. Yet, the focus has largely been on other disease like HIV and Cancer,” he said.

Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has repeated seizures or convulsions over time. Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain activity that cause changes in attention of behaviour.

The bank committed Sh2 million towards the NECC coordination committee to help educate the public and help demystify the disorder.

“We decided to support awareness creation due to the potential to reach a large number of Kenyans. To this end we allocated Sh2 million to NECC coordination committee to help in creating informed conversations about epilepsy through the most cost effective activities which will include roadshows and medical camps,” he said.

The condition is surrounded by a myriad of myths and misconceptions: from witchcraft, to sacred maladies, to family curses and many others. These often prevent people with epilepsy from seeking proper medical treatment or their families from assisting them for fear of stigma or being ostracized.

At the flag-off, the deputy governor will be joined by the NECC chairman, Prof P.G Kioy, Bank of Africa’s Product Development and Marketing Manager, Josephine Njuguna, and Eldoret County health officials.

Other road shows will follow in Machakos proceed to Nakuru before winding up in Nyeri later this year.

The National Youth Dance Company, seeking future talent.Drive Hot News

 

The National Youth Dance Company hunts out talented teenagers from all over England. Their latest performance will premiere at Sadler's Wells on Friday. Judith Burns went to one of their rehearsals.

"This is the centre point. We have worked on this. Remember this. Don't dance off the stage. You are all intelligent beings," shouts rehearsal director Niku Chaudhari.
The largest rehearsal studio at Sadler's Wells theatre in north London is roughly the size of a tennis court.
Days before they premiere on the Sadler's Wells stage, the dancers fill the space, moving together in what Niku says should be "an organised mess".
There's encouragement as well as criticism: "It looks cool, it really does," she tells them.

Kenya's Garissa University College stormed by gunmen.Drive Hot News

Kenyan troops have surrounded the compound in Garissa.

 

Masked gunmen have stormed a university near the Somali border in north-eastern Kenya, killing at least two people and injuring four.

Troops have surrounded Garissa University College amid reports of heavy gunfire and explosions.
Witnesses spoke of the gunmen firing indiscriminately and there are fears the casualty toll could rise.
It is not clear who is behind the attack, but Somali al-Shabab militants have regularly targeted Kenya.

Exchange of fire

Some five masked gunmen are reported to have carried out the attack. There are reports that hostages have been taken.
Kenyan police said the gunmen shot guards at the main gate at about 05:30 local time (02:30 GMT).
Nearby policemen then engaged in a fierce exchange of fire and the gunmen escaped into the university buildings.


Security forces were now trying to "flush them out", a police statement said. It urged people to stay away from the area.
Two guards were confirmed killed at the main university gate, with two policemen and a student among the injured. But eyewitnesses spoke of many casualties inside the building.
The gunmen reportedly ordered students to lie down on the floor, but at least 27 are known to have escaped and are at a military facility.
The BBC's Bashkas Jugsooda'ay in the town has spoken to one teacher who said students had come to her house early in the morning, running away from the gunfire.
 




Another witness, Alinoor Moulid, spoke of "intense gunfire and explosions", adding: "According to the students who fled, the gunmen were indiscriminate in their attack, they were shooting everyone on sight."
The university opened in 2011 and is the only place of higher education in the region. It has some 900 students, 700 of them from other parts of Kenya.
The BBC's Anne Soy in Nairobi says that because of its proximity to Somalia, Garissa is an easy target for al-Shabab militants and there have been several attacks in the past.
She says that the UK and Australia issued alerts this week warning of potential terror attacks in parts of the country, including Garissa.
Garissa, 150km (90 miles) from the border with Somalia, has a large population of Kenyan Somalis.
Al-Shabab has carried out a number of attacks in Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops were sent to Somalia to help fight the militant group there.
The deadliest attack targeted the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi in September 2013, when 67 people were killed.
Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia and is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK.