Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, May 10, announced the signing of the Kenya-UK Security Compact 2023.
In a joint press briefing with UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat at Harambee House in Nairobi, the CS noted that Kenya is revamping the security sector to face the challenges of money laundering and terrorism head-on.
“We have identified the need to strengthen the flow of illicit financial activities and to be able to reign in on money laundering and the financing of terrorism and other illegal activities.
“We have also signed a letter of intent for cooperation between Kenya and the United Kingdom in information sharing with regard to maritime security,” noted Kindiki.
Additionally, police officers will receive specialised training to handle security challenges.
“We have been able to sign off an agreement for cooperation in the area of training of our National Police Service and we are going to develop a detailed action and activity plan to ensure that we leverage the long experience of the United Kingdom to support Kenya to enhance our policing capabilities,” he stated.
On his part, Tugendhat stated that the deal was meant to protect the people of both nations which are facing similar threats.
“It’s about looking at the challenges that we all face. Because the reality is the isolation of the old days doesn’t exist anymore.
“The challenges that face the region at sea, on land, in cyberspace, challenge us both,” affirmed Tugendhat.
The Kenya-UK Security Compact started in 2015 and was renewed in 2018.
The National Police Service (NPS) is also set to get training from the UK as the ministry responds to the changing security issues in the region.
He was joined by Principal Secretaries (PS) Raymond Omollo and Julius Bitok as well as the UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott.
Previously, the UK partnered with the Kenyan security sector in the training of the country's marine commando unit.
