Police launch 24-hour patrols to secure towns during festivities
Locals prepare to take a camel ride at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa on Sunday. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki said the officers would be on 24-hour patrol to keep criminals at bay.
The officers are under instructions to pay special attention to social places such as churches, mosques and nightclubs – an order that is meant to combat the ever looming threat of terrorism.
There will also be increased surveillance on the roads where additional traffic police have been deployed to ensure discipline among motorists and free flow of traffic.
The National Police Service has stepped up security in key towns ahead of the festive season, recalling all officers who have been on leave to boost the numbers.
Police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki said the officers would be on 24-hour patrol to keep criminals at bay.
“We are giving security our best shot this festive season and have put in place mechanisms to deter any form of crime,” she said.
The officers are under instructions to pay special attention to social places such as churches, mosques and nightclubs – an order that is meant to combat the ever looming threat of terrorism.
Club owners, church and mosque administrators have been urged to ensure they screen everyone entering their premises to increase security levels.
Ms Mboroki further urged Kenyans to embrace the Nyumba Kumi initiative and report to the authorities any suspicious people or incidents in their localities using toll free numbers 999 or 112.
There will also be increased surveillance on the roads where additional traffic police have been deployed to ensure discipline among motorists and free flow of traffic.
Ms Mboroki said the traffic police in conjunction with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) would also conduct mobile patrols to ensure high level of discipline on the roads.
Speed guns have been deployed to all the counties so as to catch speeding drivers, known to be the biggest cause of killer accidents.
In port city of Mombasa, which is popular with domestic and foreign tourists during the festive season, additional safety measures have been taken, including deployment of a large number of non-uniformed police officers.
County commissioner Nelson Marwa said Nyali Bridge, supermarkets, Likoni Ferry Channel and Pirates Beach had been identified as major crime zones and have been placed under 24-hour police watch.
“We cannot disclose the number of officers we have deployed, but we have more than enough,” he said.
Security agents have been deployed around churches, hotels and other popular public facilities to ensure safety.
“We are aware that the criminals mostly target places with large crowds and we are ready to foil their plans and ensure no harm is done,” Mr Marwa said.
Six people died and scores were injured in March after terrorists attacked a church in Mombasa, prompting a security beef-up. Mombasa traffic police are taking the extra step of stopping all personal vehicles with tinted windows for inspection.
Traffic commandant Martin Kariuki said no fully tinted vehicle would be allowed to board the ferry or enter Kenya through Lunga Lunga border or from the airport without thorough checks.
Mr Marwa, who is also the chairperson of the county security committee, said security officers would work with traffic marshals to arrest drivers found driving under the influence of alcohol.
He said the security committee had for the last two months been plotting a tight security matrix for the December festive period to January.
