Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo on Wednesday revealed that Kenya has expressed interest in partnering with China in intelligence sharing, joint security operations and security management.
Speaking during Kenya’s inaugural speech at the Ministerial Roundtable at the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, China, Interior PS Raymond Omollo noted that the partnership will help bolster security capabilities in the wake of escalating global threats.
The global threats he singled out are terrorism, cyberattacks, transnational crime, regional conflicts and climate change.
He noted that the partnership will play a critical role in boosting Kenya’s capacity to tackle the emerging security threats.
"Given current trends and the interconnectivity of our world through globalisation, no nation remains impervious to these threats. However, these new challenges also offer us opportunities for strategic reevaluation and collaboration," he stated.
“In the face of these shared risks, we must also create global resilience.”
The PS further indicated that Kenya is looking to engage in more bilateral and multilateral security agreements with China and other partners.
For instance, Kenya’s police officers have been receiving technical training on the security and management of large-scale infrastructure from China. The training includes topical issues such as transnational crime and maritime security.
The Internal Security PS expressed optimism that ongoing collaborations with China will expedite the Police Equipment Modernization Programme, aimed at equipping security officers deployed in high-risk areas and contribute to mobility and modern communication systems.
The government has allocated resources for modern weaponry, advanced machinery, and reliable personal protective gear for security agents.
Kenya is also currently enhancing its Command, Control, and Communication capacity to boost the operational efficiency of the National Police Service through the deployment of new hardware and state-of-the-art technology.
“It is our hope that through international cooperation, we will acquire more state-of-the-art surveillance equipment and enhance our situational awareness and border control,” he added.
Kenya has, for years, partnered with China in an array of sectors including construction of infrastructure among others.
