Africa Focus: Britain pledges to help Kenya counter terrorism

Britain on Thursday pledged to support Kenya's counter-terrorism efforts by providing equipment, technical, training assistance to the East African nation.

British High Commissioner Christian Turner said London is already helping Kenya to improve security at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport through the provision of equipment and training of the security officers to help detect terror threats.

"These are challenging times for the Kenyan security sector and the Kenyan security authorities have sacrificed much in order to keep Kenya and the wider region safe. We are working extremely closely with the Kenyan authorities to reduce the security threats, " he said in Nairobi.

The East African nation is reeling from a spate of terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians in places of worship, shopping malls and restaurants.

Police have also admitted that despite a boost in security, the threat remained, urging Kenyans and shopping malls to remain vigilant and to "do more" to prevent attacks.

In September 2014, Britain donated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training kits to Kenya as part of efforts to support counter- terrorism.

Turner said a reformed National Police Service remained key to mitigating the risk of conflict and violence in Kenya.

The British envoy was speaking during the opening of the new National Police Staff College Strategic Leadership Program,which is considered as a landmark step in the development of a new generation of Kenyan police leaders.

The program, which is the first in Kenya, has been developed by the National Police Service in partnership with Kenyatta University and the Britain's Bramshill College of Policing. It will combine strategic policing skills training with a diploma and Masters Degree in Leadership and Security Management.

"We are delighted to help establish this first, landmark program, and to fund the leadership training component, to be delivered by the UK Bramshill College of Policing," Turner said.

The candidates, who are senior police officers, will undergo strategic leadership training, based on the UK's International Strategic Leadership Program, which delivers contemporary concepts of best practice in policing from around the world.

The police in the country had no strategic leadership and command training capability. Previously, training of senior police officers was conducted by various government training institutions.

Turner said the cooperation with Kenya are to build up the capacity of its anti-terrorism police and rural border patrol units.

Johnston Kavuludi, chairman of the National Police Service Commission, said the program aims at imparting skills that are necessary for police officers to attain international standards in combating crime and other security issues. Endi