Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Friday, March 17, announced the government's plan to roll out a new security system aimed at devolving Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) establishments in the country.
Speaking during an induction workshop with members of the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Defence in Mombasa, Duale revealed that the plan was at an advanced stage as his Ministry sought to establish more barracks in different parts of the country.
According to him, the new system will help to solve the imbalance where military installations are currently concentrated in major towns while exposing interior parts of the country to endless security threats.
Among the towns mentioned by the CS as areas earmarked to host military barracks include Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Lamu, and Kwale.
The move, he noted, would help to guarantee the areas of a timely response from the security agencies in times of emergency as opposed to the current situation where such regions were forced to rely on reinforcement from other towns.
"Traditionally, our barracks are mostly in urban areas but most of the threat is originating from interior parts thus necessitating the need to have military barracks in these areas," he told the members present in the workshop.
The CS went on to explain his Ministry's involvement in the process of restoring order and security in areas affected by perennial banditry activities.
He explained that KDF had made significant steps in the operation against the bandits in the North Rift through the operation dubbed "Maliza Uhalifu North Rift" and other operations such as responding to emergencies.
On their part, members of the defence committee led by Belgut Member of Parliament, Nelson Koech, vowed to accord the Ministry the requisite support to enhance its operations in the country.
Members of the committee also resolved to forge a working synergy with the ministry, especially at a time when KDF's involvement was becoming more common.
