Kenya and the United Kingdom, together with the International Organization for Migration and security firm VALAR, have formalized a new agreement geared towards enhancing security along Kenya’s borders as well as controlling human trafficking and other criminal activities.
The agreement was signed today and brought together Kenyan government, the UK government, IOM, and VALAR with a common goal of enhancing security and stability in Kenya’s borders, which have been marked with a lot of insecurity over the years.
The Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, announced the signing of the agreement and led the process. He said that through the cooperation, not only will security be enhanced along Kenya’s borders, but the government will also be able to improve its capacity to deal with security issues that have been a thorn in Kenya’s side over the years as a result of poorly monitored border areas.
The areas that will first benefit from this cooperation are counties that have been marked with a lot of insecurity over the years, including Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, and Busia.
“These regions are vulnerable to insecurity, including human trafficking. This deal will help us safeguard lives, enhance safety, and support development.”
The cooperation will also see peace and development thrive through the creation of a conducive environment along Kenya’s borders that will see these areas become safer for both local and foreign traders as well as other actors who depend on the borders as a source of livelihood.
The UK Deputy High Commissioner Diana Dalton and Ben Fisher from the UK’s Integrated Security Fund were present as well as senior security officials from both countries as Raymond Omollo signed the deal yesterday.
The development comes at a time when Kenya has been trying hard to enhance security along its borders through cooperation with other countries as a way of controlling criminal activities that have been a thorn in Kenya’s side over the years.
