NAIROBI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will rely heavily on modern technologies to boost the capacity of security personnel to detect and thwart emerging threats like cyber-crime, terrorism and influx of contraband goods, a senior official said on Monday.
Fred Matiang'i, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior said that modernization of security services through adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) coupled with improved working condition for police is on the cards to boost action on crime.
"The national government has invested heavily in security infrastructure and the requisite human resources to enable our police respond effectively to peace and security challenges in the country," Matiang'i said.
"Towards this end, we have provided modern equipment to counter terrorism threats, deployed ICT to clean and safeguard our national data for identification and immigration documentation as well," he added.
The CS spoke in Nairobi during a national security forum attended by police commanders and regional administrators to evaluate the scope of threats to law and order in the country.
He said that improved security is key to realization of President Uhuru Kenyatta's development blueprint dubbed the Big Four Agenda for growth and transformation.
Kenya has lately grappled myriad threats to national security that include cattle rustling, terrorist attacks along the border with Somalia, cyber-crime, influx of contraband goods and school riots.
Matiang'i said that adequately resourced security officers have been deployed across the country to combat emerging security threats like blockade of tankers ferrying crude oil from Turkana to the refinery in the port city of Mombasa.
"Seamless coordination of our security agencies has been prioritized to enhance their capacity to respond to threats linked to resource sharing or incitement from political actors," said Matiang'i.
He noted that investments in surgical intelligence gathering are key to thwart grave security threats like armed robberies, terrorism, kidnappings and human trafficking. Enditem
