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The government will establish Border Patrol Operation Bases in Suam, Lwakhakha and Busia to deter cross border crimes along the Kenya-Uganda border.

According to the Ministry of Interior, forged documents and drug trafficking form the largest share of cross-border crimes in Suam, Malaba and Busia.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo yesterday said Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Busia were target counties for border security in Western region and along the Kenya and Uganda border.

The PS singled out forgery of travel documents as the country’s biggest cross-border security concern. “Drug seizures, including heroin, cannabis and cocaine follow while counterfeits and contrabands, including sugar, maize, alcohol, ethanol and pharmaceutical drugs also form the confiscations made by border control authorities,” he said.

Last year, seizures of narcotics accounted for about 21 per cent of the criminal cases recorded during the same period.

He said a number of internal security interventions had been put in place, including the implementation of a Multi-agency approach under the Border Control and Coordination Operations Committee.

The agencies are also leveraging cooperation between border control authorities to strengthen the ability to curb cross border crime and enhance border security.

The government is also constructing One Stop Border Posts supported by the upgrade of the 45km Kitale-Endebess-Suam road at a cost of Sh4.9 billion.

This is to facilitate integrated border management and foster legitimate trade, road transport and linkages between Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and the DRC.