Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on June 14, said that the government plans to install CCTV cameras across major Kenyan cities to reduce crime and improve security, adding that the move is part of a wider effort to modernize policing.
CCTV camera rollout will begin in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Nyeri, as authorities finalize the procurement of surveillance systems.
The CCTV cameras will be linked to command centers, where police officers can monitor activity in real time and respond quickly to incidents.
Government Objective to Use CCTV Cameras in Fighting Crime
Kipchumba Murkomen said the aim of using the technology is to curb rising insecurity, especially crimes like pickpocketing and gang-related incidents that have become common in the city centers.
“We are in the process of revamping our security sector by infusing technology, and one of the things we are doing is to procure CCTV cameras to ensure that Nairobi and other towns and cities are fitted with surveillance to broaden coverage,” Murkomen said.
The government said that constant surveillance will discourage criminals and help the police detect and respond to incidents more efficiently.
All Saints Cathedral Attack Incident Raises Urgency
Murkomen’s announcement comes after a disturbing incident at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, where suspected gang members stormed the church, disrupted activities for those present and attempted to steal from them on 12th June as they were holding a post-Budget discussion.
Also Read:Â Goons Storm Budget Meeting, Attempt to Snatch Phones
DCI officers and the police are currently using CCTV footage from the All Saints Cathedral church to help them identify suspects and make arrests.
This incidence shows the growing threat of organized criminal activities in the capital city and also showed the need of intensive surveillance to track the criminals.
How CCTV Cameras in Cities Will Improve Law and Order
With CCTV cameras in place, police will be able to see public spaces such as streets, transport areas and busy centers, making it harder for criminals to operate freely.
CCTV Cameras will also help the police by detecting crime in real time (providing police with real-time information), tracking suspects after incidents, and using recorded footage as evidence in court.
The cameras will also enable better coordination, as the system connects cameras from businesses and residential areas into a single network, allowing police to track suspects more easily across different locations.
CS Murkomen said the aim is to ensure offenders and goons are caught and punished according to the law.
“We know that Nairobi in the recent past has faced petty crimes, especially in the CBD, and this revamping of the security sector will ensure that we capture these people,” Murkomen said.
Concerns Over Privacy and What the Constitution Says
Even as the government pushes for more surveillance, the Constitution sets limits to protect citizens.
Under Article 31 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), every person has the right to privacy. This includes the right not to have:
- Personal information unnecessarily collected or revealed
- Private life interfered with
- Communication monitored without justification
The Data Protection Act (2019) requires that personal data collected through systems like CCTV be handled lawfully, securely and transparently, and only for specific purposes.
Also Read:Â Murkomen Gives Way Forward After All Saints Cathedral Incident
This law also gives citizens the right to access and control their data, correct it, or have it deleted if necessary.
The National Intelligence Service Act (2012) governs how intelligence agencies conduct monitoring and investigations.
Under this National Intelligence Service law, surveillance activities require a legal warrant before they are carried out, and any limitation of rights, including privacy, must be done under strict conditions.
As CCTV systems are expected to be used by law enforcement agencies, their use must remain lawful, accountable and within constitutional limits.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
