Kenyan leader says joint security efforts help avert terrorism

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday closer cooperation between security agencies has seen the government put an end to many forms of crimes including terrorism.

Kenyatta also called on all security agencies to develop the multi-agency approach which he said has helped the country detect and disrupt terrorist networks.

He said security agencies must abandon the silo-mentality where each unit worked alone, since that has proved to be ineffective.

"A focus on a multi-agency approach, as opposed to the traditional silo approach, has paid dividends in detecting, preventing and disrupting the operational aims of terrorist groups and networks," Kenyatta said.

He was speaking during the graduation of the 19th batch of regional senior level military officers. It was the President's first lecture to trainees at the country's premier military institution.

The officers included Kenyans and some of other African countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Zambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

He said a good example of the multi-agency approach is the ongoing Operation Linda Boni "which has demonstrated that security agencies can achieve success by working together to counter terrorism and any other threat to our nation."

Kenyatta said this type of approach is being replicated across other regions of the country where there are security concerns.

He touched on many aspects of Kenya's security including the decision to make Kenya's border with Somalia more secure.

He said the multi-agency approach is also being used in making the border areas secure because the aim of the plan is not to create complications for border communities but to make life more secure for them.

"Our aim is not to divide people or to frustrate legal trade. We are making these security efforts while we work to integrate and strengthen the economies of the border areas to improve livelihoods and strengthen the citizenship of our citizens in those areas," said Kenyatta.

"This is an example of how hard and soft power approaches are combined to positive effect for our national security," he added.

The Kenyan leader also called on security agencies to adopt proactive measures to improve security for Kenyans.

He said Kenya's security agencies have served the country well for the last 50 years but the dynamism of today's environment demands that they transition. Endit