Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for stronger citizen participation in Kenya’s security management, saying public engagement should translate into measurable action and improved community safety.
Speaking at the National Defence College (NDC) in Karen, Nairobi, Murkomen said the government’s whole-of-society approach to security was designed to promote accountability, transparency and trust between security agencies and communities.
The CS said the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative should not be measured solely by the number of public meetings held, but by the actions arising from them, issues resolved and the speed of response to concerns raised by citizens.
He said the government would continue improving the model to establish a continuous two-way relationship between communities and security agencies.
According to Murkomen, the approach will focus on identifying security challenges, linking them to multi-agency interventions and providing feedback to communities on the outcomes.
Murkomen made the remarks while delivering a lecture titled, “Citizen Engagement as a Strategic Pillar of National Security and Resilience,” at the NDC.
He also commended the institution, led by Commandant Lieutenant General Juma Shee Mwinyikai, for its efforts to position the college as a regional centre of excellence for policy and strategy studies.
