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The government has established a multi-agency command centre at Langata Barracks to deter security threats and maintain public order during the Christmas and New Year festive season.

All police officers who are currently on leave have also been directed to resume duty with immediate effect to help in the round-the-clock manning of the multi-agency command centres in the regions and counties.

The new outfit will comprise officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Forestry Service (KFS).

In the arrangement, the Ministry of Defence will support the Regional and County Security and Intelligence Committees by providing logistical and Air Assets where required.

The National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) will be supported by Regional (RMACCs) and County (CMACCs) centres.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo yesterday said there will be more police presence and visibility since a total of 10,317 officers from the police, prisons, KWS, KFS and the Kenya Coast Guard Service have been deployed.

Surveillance

“We have also 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,” the PS said.

Dr Omollo said the arrangements were necessitated by the fact that the season is marked by increased travel, celebrations in places of worship, social gatherings, outdoor entertainment events, and heightened local and international tourism activity.

“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,” he added.

An analysis of the trends has revealed that petty offences including pickpocketing and muggings in crowded areas such as shopping malls, markets, and public transport termini have become easy points for criminals targeting valuables such as jewellery, mobile phones and handbags.

“Home burglaries where unattended homes present opportunities for burglars. We have also witnessed a surge in car breaks in the villages where families have travelled upcountry,” he stated.

Another trend noted is traffic violations including drunk 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. 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,” he noted.

The analysis further revealed that counterfeit goods and cybercrime are also rampant with the shopping rush seeing a rise in counterfeit electronics, toys, and online fraud targeting unsuspecting buyers with fake promotions.

The PS also warned that criminals leverage the holiday period for drug distribution and exploit vulnerable children in urban centres for begging or other illegal activities, especially gender-based violence. The North Eastern region and Boni enclave remain under close security surveillance, with terrorism posing an ongoing threat to the country, according to the analysis.