China has made a handsome donation to the National Police Service (NPS) following the launch of a new surveillance center in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 23.
The Chinese government donated high range vehicles to be used by the law enforcement officers in the country in responding to emergencies raised from the surveillance center.
The new Operation Center has been fitted with CCTV cameras monitoring the Nairobi to Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway line.
Announcing the launch of the new center, police noted that it will be critical in tackling cases of vandalism of the SGR line that have been on the rise.
Deputy Inspector of Police Edward Mbugua noted that the donation and new center will greatly enhance mobility and tame vandalism in the country.
On the other hand, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Kenya lauded the country's security officers for their continued cooperation and provision of security to the various construction sites run by Chinese contractors.
Africa Star Railway Operations Company (Afristar), a Chinese firm, used to run the operations of SGR until they handed over to the Kenya Railway.
Its construction was overseen by China with the tender between the countries remaining a secret despite many court orders compelling the government to reveal its details.
Transport Principal Secretary Joseph Njoroge defending the decision stated that the tender between China and Kenya was a matter of national security and had clauses barring the country from revealing the details.
The PS explained that granting orders would endanger national security and injure the foreign relations between the two nations.
The PS further detailed that terms in the contract touch on foreign government information with implications on national security and foreign relations.
Attorney General Paul Kihara also defended the contract noting that it will remain a non-disclosure since China is still undertaking other projects in the country.
