Gov’t sets up national command centre to heighten security amid festivities

The government has set up a national command centre to deter and thwart any security threat during the Christmas and New Year festive season.

The centre which comprises the military and even health ministry officials will be domiciled at the Langata barracks in Nairobi. It will involve all security services.

While announcing the new security measures on Wednesday, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said over 10,000 security officers have been deployed to ensure public safety, drawn from the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, and the Kenya Coast Guard Service.

“We recognise that this season is marked by increased travel, celebration in places of worship, social gatherings, shopping malls and recreational spaces, outdoor entertainment events and heightened local and international tourism activity,” he said.

Dr Omollo at the same time also ordered that all officers on leave resume duty immediately to support the cause.

The PS directed that all the regional and county security chiefs cascade other command centres in their areas which will be manned 24 hours weekly.

However, he assured that the country is safe and there is no need for an alarm since all measures to tame insecurity are in place.

“The current security situation across the country remains calm, although we have recorded isolated cases of marginal rise in crime rates and illegal activities during some of the festive seasons in the past,” said Omollo.

He was addressing the press flanked by senior security chiefs led by Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohamed.

Omollo noted that the government has enhanced security coverage at all entry points and major urban centres, as well as heightened traffic control to tame road accidents which remain the lead cause of injuries and fatalities in the country during the festive season.