The government is set to undertake a major overhaul of security in Kenya following approval by the cabinet of establishing a National Integrated Security Command and Control Centre. The new facility will boost inter-agency sharing of information.
In a statement that was issued on Monday, December 15, the Cabinet stated:
“The new centre will replace an existing system which, in our view, can no longer cope with present-day security requirements,”
The command centre will allow technology such as CCTV cameras, sensors, and communication systems to come together in a way that will provide a clear picture for security agencies on what is happening on the ground. With this technology in place, security agencies will be able to monitor all occurrences and react accordingly.
As stated in the cabinet, this will allow all security agencies to be connected through one platform such that it will be easy to share intelligence and work together rather than working alone.
The roll-out will commence in major towns such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret, among other major border counties. This is because these regions have a high population and are very important in terms of security.
The project forms part of a broader government initiative to improve public safety infrastructure and thus enhance national security response capabilities.
The move is also taking place when the government is implementing other measures to improve security capacity. In October, for instance, the National Land Commission allocated nearly 2,000 hectares of land in Tana River County for development by the National Intelligence Service to accommodate security installations.
In a notice published in a local gazette on October 26, chairperson of the NLC, Gershom Otachi, clarified that this piece of land called Masalani Block 1/2 had been reserved for security development projects. Additionally, Otachi stated that this piece of land cannot be transferred or used for other purposes without approval from NLC.
Taken cumulatively, these steps reveal a level of intent on the part of the government towards making heavy investments in security systems where coordination and quick responses will soon make a difference in people’s safety in the country.
