Principal Secretary for Interior Dr. Raymond Omollo has defended the government’s security record, insisting that Kenya has made significant improvements in tackling terrorism, banditry and street crime while undertaking reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s security sector.
Omollo, in an interview on Tuesday, said the country’s security situation had improved compared to four years ago, pointing to better remuneration and welfare support for security officers, expanded healthcare provision, increased personnel and enhanced accountability within security agencies.
Speaking on the government’s security agenda, the Interior PS maintained that the administration had undertaken a raft of reforms intended to improve the working conditions of security officers while strengthening their capacity to protect citizens.
“If you look at individuals who support in the security sector, are conditions better than they were four years ago? The answer is yes. Better remuneration, better welfare support. Better healthcare support,” Omollo said.
He further argued that Kenya’s security situation had registered improvements across several fronts, including terrorism, banditry and petty crime, attributing the progress to ongoing reforms and enhanced coordination among security agencies.
“Our security situation as a country, if you look at all indicators, whether it is terrorism, whether it is banditry, whether it is petty crime on the streets, there have been significant improvements,” he stated.
PS Omollo also defended the government’s approach to policing and the rule of law, citing the appearance of the Inspector General of Police before a judge as evidence of growing accountability within the security establishment.
“We are a law-abiding country, and I don’t think there would be any better demonstration of the team at the security sector abiding by the law than what we have shown. The Inspector General of Police appearing before a judge has never happened. It has happened in this administration,” he said.
On the fight against criminal activities and human trafficking, the PS said the government was combining public sensitisation with law enforcement, insisting that criminal conduct would be addressed through established judicial processes.
“We continue to sensitise communities so that people appreciate the importance of maintaining peace. Where there are criminal activities or cases of trafficking, we deal with them through the criminal justice system,” he said.
The Interior PS identified inter-agency coordination and community participation as central pillars of the government’s security strategy, noting that the Ministry of Interior works with intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Defence, the National Police Service and local communities.
He explained that the multi-agency framework was designed to ensure that security interventions were coordinated rather than left to individual institutions operating independently.
“We have a multi-agency framework in terms of our interactions, whether it is interaction with intelligence, interaction with the Ministry of Defence, interaction with the Police, and most importantly, interaction with the community,” Omollo explained.
Beyond Kenya’s domestic security priorities, Omollo defended the country’s involvement in regional peace initiatives, arguing that Nairobi had a responsibility to support stability in neighbouring countries.
He cited Kenya’s role in hosting delegations during South Sudan’s prolonged conflict, particularly the negotiations held in Naivasha, which contributed to efforts to resolve the country’s political and military crisis.
“When South Sudan experienced protracted struggles between different factions, Kenya hosted several delegations for many years in Naivasha. Those engagements eventually contributed to resolving the situation in South Sudan,” he said.
The PS maintained that Kenya could not abandon its regional peace-building responsibilities, describing the country as a neighbour with an obligation to support stability beyond its borders.
“Kenya has a responsibility to support peace and stability within the region,” he added.
