Gov’t assures of heightened security ahead of festive season

The government has assured the public of adequate security measures as the country heads into the festive season, a period characterised by increased travel, heightened social activity and a surge in domestic and international tourism.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in a statement said the overall security situation across the country remains calm and stable, but noted that past trends show the period can record isolated increases in criminal activity and traffic violations.

In a bid to ensure the safety of every Kenyan, the CS underscored that the National Multi-Agency Command Centre has been activated to coordinate surveillance, intelligence sharing and rapid response before, during and after the festive season.

The centre brings together officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, National Youth Service and the National Government Administration.

He also noted that security officers drawn from the aforementioned police service units and the Kenya Coast Guard Service have been deployed across the country, with all officers previously on leave recalled.

"Similar coordination centres have been activated at regional and county levels to enhance operational command and control," read the statement.

"These efforts are complemented by the festive season Operation Orders operationalised by the National Police Service to ensure coordinated, intelligence-led security operations and effective maintenance of law and order across the country."

The teams have been stationed at entry and exit points, including airports and border crossings, as well as high-traffic areas such as hotels, shopping malls, public beaches, tourist sites, central business districts, critical infrastructure, places of worship and entertainment joints.

Murkomen says regional and county security committees have also reinforced counter-terrorism preparedness and intensified surveillance, particularly around large public gatherings and critical infrastructure.

Likewise, a nationwide crackdown targeting illicit brews and drugs has been launched, led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, working alongside the police.

The government has also intensified operations against organised criminal gangs and escalated enforcement against crimes such as female genital mutilation, defilement, early pregnancies, forced marriages, domestic violence and religious extremism.

Murkomen consequently urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement officers, adding that public safety remains a shared responsibility.