Government announces new public safety measures ahead of festive season

The government has activated advanced security measures, including setting up a multi-agency command centre at Lang'ata Barracks to deter threats and maintain public order during the festive season and into the new year.

This was revealed by Interior Permanent Secretary Raymond Omollo on Wednesday during a press briefing on security preparedness ahead of the festive season.

"We will have operational coordination through the activation of the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) at Lang'ata Barracks, supported by regional and county centres to deter security threats and maintain public order. It will comprise officers from Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Forest Service," said the PS.

He was accompanied by top security officials from the Interior ministry, the police service and the military.

At the same time, a total of 10,317 officers from the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Coast Guard Service have been deployed to manage public safety and address violations.

"Kenyans should also expect to see more police presence and visibility, because we have deployed more specialized units including the all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) Unit and undercover Officers, alongside the General Duty Police, to intensify patrols and heighten surveillance in the major towns, places of worship and critical infrastructural areas," he added.

Marginal rise in crime

The PS said the move has been triggered by what he referred to as a marginal rise in criminal activities across the country.

"The current security situation across the country remains calm. However, we have witnessed isolated cases of marginal rise in crime rates and illegal activities during some festive seasons in the past," said the PS.

At the same time, all regional and county security and intelligence committees have been directed to activate multi-agency command centres with dedicated personnel from all security agencies.

"All multi-agency command centres to be manned 24 hours, seven days a week. This means that all police officers who are currently on leave are hereby directed to resume duty with immediate effect and not later than December 5, 2024," the PS said.

According to the government's analysis, the criminal activities that are on the rise include petty offences like pickpocketing and muggings in crowded areas such as shopping malls, markets, and public transport terminuses becoming easy points for criminals targeting valuables such as jewellery, mobile phones and handbags.

Home burglaries where unattended homes present opportunities for burglars have also been reported.

“We have also witnessed a surge in car breaks in the villages where families have travelled upcountry,” the PS said.

Traffic violations including drink driving, overloading and speeding public transport vehicles escalate road fatalities. Unscrupulous owners also tend to deploy unlicensed public service vehicles to meet the high travel demand.

“At the same time road traffic accidents remain a leading cause of injuries and fatalities in our country, yet most of these accidents are caused by preventable human factors due to non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations,” PS Omollo said.

"We recognise this season as a time marked by increased travel, celebrations in places of worship, social gatherings in shopping malls and recreational spaces, outdoor entertainment events, and heightened local and international tourism activity," he added.

Counterfeit goods and cybercrime have become rampant with the shopping rush, seeing a rise in counterfeit electronics, toys, and online fraud targeting unsuspecting buyers with fake promotions.

Criminals are also leveraging the holiday period for drug distribution and exploitation of vulnerable children in urban centres for begging or other illegal activities, especially gender-based violence.

Additionally, noise violations and unauthorised gatherings similarly tend to pose a public nuisance, with the potential for escalation into violence.

Omollo said the north eastern region and the Boni enclave remain under close security surveillance, with terrorism posing an ongoing threat to the country.

Disaster response teams are on high alert following forecasts by the Kenya Meteorological Department of La Niña conditions that may result in severe dryness in the eastern region, requiring proactive disaster preparedness.

As a result, security agencies have enhanced security coverage at all entry and exit points, including airports and border crossings, hotels, shopping malls, public beaches, and tourist sites.

Others are critical infrastructure installations and central business districts in major urban centres as well as places of worship and entertainment venues.

Kenyans have been urged to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious incidents.