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By Brian Yatich
Kenya has witnessed terror threats over the last few years from Al-Shabaab militia as well as homeland threats like Mungiki killings and cattle rustling in some communities.
Major attacks that shock the country include the 2013 Westgate Shopping Mall siege the June 2014 Mpeketoni attacks as well as Garissa killings – which saw 147 students massacred by the militia group.
The attacks have adversely impacted on many businesses with tourism sector the most affected. The aftermath of the attacks has also rendered many jobless as a result and seen potential investors take-off.
Close to 310 people have been killed and more than 215,000 displaced in northern Kenya in the last six months alone, according to United Nations figures.
The recent visit by US President Barrack Obama during his visit to the country to officiate the Global Entrepreneurial Summit (GES) signaled a renewed corporation between Kenya and the US and promised to support the country’s effort in fight over Al-Shabaab menace.
Government’s quest to tame insecurity
Several initiatives have been spearheaded by Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and the ministry of internal affairs and co-ordination but experts believe a more coordinated effort is needed to tackle the surge.
Right from the deployment of troops in Somalia in an operation to combat incursions by the Al- Shabaab, the attacks on civilians have however increased significantly. The government has also embarked on voluntary registration of illegally acquired firearms in West Pokot County in a bid to reduce numerous cattle rustling and armed gangs as experienced in Turkana, Nakuru, Baringo, Laikipia and West Pokot regions.
These exercises which were launched by Deputy President William Ruto are expected to regulate and monitor all registered firearms held by individuals and ensure that those who own them will not engage in illegal activities as the government plans to closely monitor and the holders and use of firearms in the targeted communities.
The initiative is conceived as an inter-agency initiative aimed at ensuring an integrated response to insecurity. It is also expected to bring various response units of the security agencies, mainly the army and police, with the sole aim of facilitating information-sharing, pooling resources and synchronizing responses.
Also on the agenda is ‘Nyumba Kumi’ initiative, which aims to have every 10 households, form a neighborhood watch association. The primary objective of the initiative is to enable community members to get to know each other and to share information among themselves and about potential threats to their neighborhood.
Among the information to be shared is news about new people coming into the neighborhood and suspicious criminal elements in the area. This is expected to make it difficult for criminals, particularly terrorists, to find havens.
The philosophy borrowed from Tanzania as module for citizen participation in the provision of security will play a critical role in safe-guarding a country’s citizens.
Surveillance system
The introduction of closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras in 10 major cities and installation of broadband connectivity at border points as part of a five-year strategic plan is also expected to boost security in the country.
The contract for the installation and rollout of this major project has already been awarded to the country’s mobile phone telecommunication giant, Safaricom.
The Integrated Public Safety Communication and Surveillance System, provides for 1 800 CCTV cameras to be installed in Nairobi and Mombasa at a cost of KSh12.3 billion and is hoped to begin operation from next year.
Safaricom is running a dedicated 4G-network infrastructure capable of hosting an expandable 50 000-user base.
The system is further expected to equip 7 600 police officers with state-of-the-art multi-media communication devices to enhance their work. In addition to digital radio communication the system is expected to include extensive video surveillance, video conferencing capability, sophisticated mapping systems and a central command center to be managed by the police
In 2014 the government unveiled plans to spend about US$1 billion, with the budget touching on various important aspects of the country’s security.
Among other provisions are plans to acquire 10 new helicopters, refurbish three grounded Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters and lease at least five helicopters to improve the operations of the air wing of the police force.