Government steps up security measures ahead of festive season

DIANAROSE NGUNJIRI (MyGOV)

The Government has beefed up security as the festive season approaches.

The Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo has said among the measures taken is the enhancement of security at entry and exit points including airports and border crossings, hotels, shopping malls, public beaches and tourist sites.

Of interest is the Boni Forest in Lamu, and the northern frontier counties of Garissa, Mandera and Wajir.

“The North-Eastern region and Boni enclave remain under close security surveillance, with terrorism posing an ongoing threat to the country,” PS Omollo said.

He said the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) at Lang’ata Barracks had been activated to deter security threats and maintain public order during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The NMACC is being supported by regional and county centres and will comprise officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Coast Guard Service.

The multi-pronged security approach includes 10,317 officers who have been deployed to manage public security and address violations.

“Kenyans should expect to see more police presence and visibility who are to be deployed with more specialised units including all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) unit and undercover officers alongside general duty police to intensify patrols and heighten surveillance in major towns, places of worship and critical infrastructure areas,” PS Omollo said.

Consequently, all police officers on leave have been recalled to work to enhance and coordinate security operations in all counties during the period.

The Interior PS said in the past, the country has witnessed isolated cases of marginal rise in crime rates and illegal activities during festive seasons.

These include petty offences such as pick pocketing and mugging in crowded areas, home burglaries, traffic violations, noise violations among others.

As such, he urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with the law enforcement officers during the season, especially for the vulnerable communities including women, children and persons with disability.

Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo flanked by senior security officials. 

“In the spirit of community policing, we call upon the public to report any crime or suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the police hotline numbers 999, 112, 911, and #FichuakwaDCI 0800 722 203,” he said.

The PS also warned traffic rules offenders saying more police and National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) officers have been deployed to enforce compliance during the period.

Dr Omollo further encouraged communities to remain vigilant during the school holidays and urged parents and guardians to take an active role to ensure children’s safety, especially in flood-prone areas.

He said the Ministry had assessed flood-affected regions of Busia and Kisumu to evaluate the extent of damage, oversee the distribution of relief supplies, and engage with displaced families, as the government intensifies its disaster response efforts.

“While the rains are expected to subside soon, we must remain vigilant and adhere to government safety directives. This includes avoiding hazardous zones including dams, roads and bridges deemed unsafe and following evacuation notices,” Dr Omollo said.

As of last week, nnationwide, the floods have displaced over 3,970 households, disrupted transport and agriculture, and caused 12 fatalities, with one person still missing, he said.