Regional and county security teams from Garissa, Wajir,
Mandera, and Lamu, led by the Northeastern Regional Commissioner, during the security coordination meeting presided over by the PS of Internal Security and National
Administration./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Ben Fisher, Head of UK's Integrated Security Fund and Senior Regional Conflict Advisor,
British High Commission./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Thomas Saka, Secretary
Administrator, Minister of Interior and National Administration./STEPHEN ASTARIKOThe UK, in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Interior, has underscored the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries in advancing regional stability.
This week, a high-level
meeting was convened in Mombasa to review progress under the UK-funded Deris Wanaag program, a flagship
initiative aimed at enhancing peace and security in Kenya’s border counties.
The event, graced by Internal Security and National Administration PS Dr.
Raymond Omolo and held on October 29-30 in Mombasa, was attended by regional and county security teams from Garissa, Wajir, Mandera,
and Lamu.
The meeting was meant to review progress in countering violent extremism and
enhancing security cooperation along Kenya’s borders with Somalia and Ethiopia.
The meeting underscored the enduring strategic partnership between the
United Kingdom and Kenya in advancing regional stability.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and
National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo reiterated the importance of
sustained vigilance and proactive engagement by all citizens and institutions
in safeguarding the country’s national security.
Dr Omolo urged members of the public, private sector actors, and
community leaders to maintain a high level of situational awareness and to
partner closely with law enforcement agencies, praising the Deris Wanaag
programme for playing a big part in improving security along the border.
“This
workshop could not have come at a better time. Across the Horn of Africa,
insecurity is mutating—from local resource conflicts to transnational threats
driven by violent extremism, illicit trade, and climate stress,” the PS said.
“This
engagement, therefore, is not just about reviewing activities or progress on a work plan. It is about refining a vision—a vision where border communities are
not seen as helpless bystanders but as central pillars of Kenya’s and the
region’s security architecture,” he added.
Ben
Fisher, Head of the UK’s Integrated Security Fund and Senior Regional Conflict
Advisor at the British High Commission, said the partnership exemplifies the
UK’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s efforts in building sustainable peace in
our border regions.
“By
integrating community-led approaches with strategic interventions, we are
seeing real progress in countering radicalization and fostering peace in our
border regions,” Fisher said.
Ibrahim
Somo, the team leader of the Deris Wanaag programme said the partnership between the
Deris Wanaag programme and the Ministry of Interior exemplifies how coordinated
action and mutual trust can strengthen security and resilience in Kenya’s
border regions.
"By fostering closer collaboration between security actors and local communities, we are enhancing the collective capacity to address the persistent threat of al-Shabaab and advancing our shared vision for sustainable peace and stability," he said.
Building on the success of previous
UK-supported programmes in the Northeastern region, the initiative has
delivered tangible results, including improved cross-border security
coordination and enhanced community resilience.
Deris Wanaag, meaning “good neighborliness,”
is a regional peace and security programme focused on reducing instability in
the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border areas.
It leverages strategic UK
partnerships with stakeholders at regional, national, sub-national, and
community levels.
The programme integrates security,
development, and peacebuilding to address regional insecurity and support local
conflict resolution.
Key goals include: Building
resilience against violent extremism, Improving national responses to
insecurity and empowering communities to identify and address their security
priorities
With UK
funding of Ksh2.5 billion, Deris Wanaag blends security, development, and
peacebuilding into a unified approach.
It combines “soft” strategies—such as conflict resolution, community dialogue, early warning systems, and rapid response mechanisms—with targeted interventions identified by the Ministry of Interior.
These efforts are designed to counter the influence of al-Shabaab and strengthen local capacities to prevent radicalisation.
