Interior PS Raymond Omollo has consoled with families who lost their loved ones following the Westgate Mall attack that took place 10 years ago.
In a statement released on Thursday, Omollo said the devastating incident left an indelible mark on the nation’s soil.
“Forever, our hearts remain heavy with the memories of those we lost, and today we remember them and stand in solemn solidarity with their grieving families, sharing in the weight of their unimaginable loss,” Omollo said.
He said the aftermath taught the country invaluable lessons on vigilance, preparedness and emergency response.
“The events taught us the importance of never lowering our guard against any threat to our public security and safety,” he said.
The PS said the government is progressively enhancing the capacity through recruitment of more security personnel, establishment of formed units and elite squads.
They have also advanced training programs for officers and bolstered firepower as envisioned in the Police Equipment Modernization Programme.
He said the end goal is to sustain high levels of surveillance along borders and covert security operations across the country in order to neutralize the enemy before he strikes.
“This approach has yielded tremendous results in terms of the number of foiled terror attacks targeted at us. For this reason, we pay homage to our men and women in uniform for their selfless sacrifices, and remember those who have paid the ultimate price while protecting us,” Omollo said.
He said the country will continue securing strategic partnerships with global partners in an effort to build collective resilience against global threats.
Omollo also acknowledged the private security sector for plugging into national security architecture.
“We have set about streamlining the industry, which has not only elevated our overall security infrastructure but also spurred significant job creation and contributed to economic growth,” he said.
Further, he called on citizens to continue sharing information regarding terrorists adding that everyone has a duty in protecting the nation.
“We commend wananchi who have shouldered more responsibility in the management of security through information-sharing and cooperation with our security officers,” he said.
“With a higher sense of patriotism and civic responsibility, each one of us has a role to play in securing our country from harm. This we must do for the greater good and in the best interest of our country.”
According to the PS, a total of 67 innocent citizens lost their lives.
He said some of the survivors still bear physical scars that loudly echo the horrors they suffered in the hands of the enemy.
"Many continue to endure profound psychological excruciation that no passage of time or empathetic words will ever assuage," he said.
