President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off a fleet of 35 patrol vehicles donated by the US government to beef up Kenya's anti-terrorism efforts on Thursday, November 19, 2020.
The Head of State had visited the Border Police Unit (BPU) Headquarters and Training Campus at Kanyonyo in Kitui County.
He was accompanied by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi, Interior CAS Hussein Dado, Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai and the US Regional Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Marc Jackson.
In a statement sent by State House, he reiterated the government's commitment to the modernisation of the country's security apparatus.
“My administration recognises the importance of security in the realization of peace and sustainable social-economic development, this is the reason I have paid particular focus on the security sector since coming into office.
“We understand that in a dynamic operating environment characterized by emerging and asymmetrical threats, investment in modern technology and cutting-edge training is instrumental for 21st Century law enforcement,” the president said.
The Head of State asserted that despite competing national interests, including the fight against Covid-19, the government would continue investing in equipment, technology and training to enhance the effectiveness of the police and other security agencies.
He praised the multi-agency approach to the management of the country's security and congratulated BPU for synergising with other security and border control agencies to significantly lower incidents of cross-border insecurity.
“Going forward, our security sector will adopt greater collaborative approaches with related agencies both within the country as well as colleagues in other nations,” Kenyatta said.
On the welfare of police officers, he reiterated the government's efforts to implement initiatives aimed at improving their working and living conditions among them the expanded medical and housing schemes.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i thanked the president for his administration’s enhanced investment in the security sector.
“Since you became president in 2013, the unprecedented changes we have seen in the security of our country and the level of investment that has gone into the security sector is actually a testament to your level of interest and focus in securing our people, our property and the country,” he praised.
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