President William Ruto has ordered the formation of a multi-agency team to develop a strategy for tackling drug abuse, cybercrime, maritime crime and border control.
Ruto said the team will bring together the Ministry of Interior, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies.
He announced the plan after meeting United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna Monica Juma on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“We agreed to establish a team bringing together the Ministry of Interior, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to develop a strategy on cybercrime, maritime crime, border control and drug abuse,” Ruto said.
The President said Kenya would deepen its cooperation with UNODC on training and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies.
The partnership will also explore collaboration on standards for the treatment of drug abuse, bringing the health component into the government’s response to the problem.
Ruto also said Kenya would advance the necessary internal processes on the UN cybercrime convention, including submitting the matter to Parliament in a timely manner.
Juma had earlier said her discussions with Ruto covered the expansion of UNODC’s partnership with Kenya in tackling maritime crime and cyber-enabled crimes, strengthening border controls and law enforcement, and addressing drug trafficking routes.
She said the two also discussed drug-use prevention and treatment, with Kenya expected to draw on UNODC’s expertise and international standards.
The meeting took place as world leaders gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where Kenya has been pursuing stronger international partnerships on security and other areas of national development.
