Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has urged the security forces operating in the Northern parts of the country to work closely with the communities to enhance security.
Kindiki was speaking in Shanta Abak town during the commissioning of the sub-county where he was the chief guest.
He said that there is a need to make the public part of the security operations by making sure that they are not hurt or injured unjustly.
“I am asking the special forces who are working in this area to work closely with communities so that we move from the old way of doing things where the public does not see the direct connection and relationship with the security agencies. We want to improve the relation between our security process and the residents of Nothern Kenya,” he said.
Kindiki thanked the security agencies for their continued dedication to their duty and ensuring that the country is safe.
He added:
“Our special forces are doing a very good job because dealing with this enemy is not a small job. We have even lost some of them in the line of duty and others have been seriously injured but their spirits against the militants are still unmoved."
“I urge these officers who are leading the war against terrorism to be friendly with the public so that they may get information which might help stop the enemy and bring peace in our country,” he added.
The CS further reiterated that there is a need to change the way the public perceives security operations so that there can be a united front against al-Shabab and banditry in the country.
“We want to move from the old ways of doing things where the public does not see the direct connection and relationship with the security agencies. We want to prove the relationship between our security forces and the residents of Northern Kenya so that we can share information and get intelligence even as we continue with the war against terror,” he said.
He also requested the support of the political leaders in the region, who are more in touch with the people at the grassroots so that they may understand how a safer country can bring success through businesses, agriculture and other activities.
Recently, the CS revealed that the government had rolled out Sh7 billion state-of-the-art security equipment to bolster safety measures in regions prone to terrorism and banditry.
The deployment is slated for areas prone to terrorism and banditry, with a focus on bolstering safety measures in regions like North Eastern, Upper Eastern, and Upper Coastal areas.
At the same time, CS Kindiki announced the recruitment and training of National Police Reservists (NPRs) starting next month, intended to complement the efforts of multi-agency security personnel in combating terrorism financiers and orchestrators.
In a bid to tackle evolving security threats comprehensively, the government has unveiled a robust 5-year security equipment modernization plan, with an estimated cost of Ksh. 37 billion.
