The Ministry of Interior has announced a raft of enhanced security measures to safeguard lives and property as Kenyans enter the festive season. Increased travel, social activities, and a rise in domestic and international tourism traditionally mark the period.
While the overall security situation across the country remains calm and stable, the Interior Ministry notes that past trends indicate a likelihood of isolated incidents, including opportunistic crime, traffic violations, and other security-related challenges during the holidays.
In response, authorities have activated a coordinated, multi-agency security plan to ensure public safety throughout the season.
At the centre of the security strategy is the activation of the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC), which will oversee surveillance, intelligence sharing, and rapid response operations before, during, and after the festive period.
Multi-Agency Command Centre activated
The Centre brings together officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forestry Service, the National Youth Service, and the National Government Administration.
Similar coordination centres have also been activated at regional and county levels to strengthen command and control, supported by intelligence-led festive season operation orders issued by the National Police Service.
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The Ministry of Interior has deployed additional officers drawn from the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, National Youth Service, and the Kenya Coast Guard Service to boost security presence nationwide. All officers previously on leave have resumed duty.
Security teams have been stationed at airports, border crossings, entry and exit points, and high-traffic public areas, including hotels, shopping malls, beaches, tourist sites, central business districts, places of worship, entertainment venues, and critical infrastructure installations.
Specialized police units are supporting the deployments, with the Ministry of Defence providing logistical and air support where necessary, as well as guarding against external threats.
Festive season public advisory and travel guidance
Motorists are advised to plan journeys, adjust travel schedules, and use alternative routes to avoid congestion.
Travelers heading from Nairobi to Western and Nyanza regions have been encouraged to use the Nairobi–Suswa–Narok route as an alternative to the Mai Mahiu escarpment, while those traveling through Central Kenya may consider the Nairobi–Nyeri–Nyahururu–Nakuru route for smoother and safer travel.
To address congestion and road safety risks, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), working alongside the Traffic Police Department, has launched a nationwide traffic operation targeting major highways and urban roads.
The operation includes multi-agency coordination, enhanced visibility in high-risk corridors, deployment of mobile courts where necessary, and the use of both physical and electronic enforcement tools, in line with resolutions of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ).
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Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers have also been deployed to monitor enforcement and deter corruption.
Heightened counter-terrorism measures
Regional and County Security Committees have intensified counter-terrorism preparedness, focusing on safeguarding critical infrastructure and large public gatherings. The teams are actively implementing Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) County Action Plans, alongside increased surveillance and targeted operations.
The government has also launched a nationwide crackdown on the production, sale, and consumption of illicit brews and drugs, led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The operation, conducted in collaboration with national government administrative officers and the police, aims to curb substances that pose a significant threat to public safety and security.
In addition to intensified operations against organized criminal gangs in Nairobi, the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Central, and Eastern regions, security agencies have escalated enforcement against cultural and social crimes.
These include female genital mutilation (FGM), defilement, early pregnancies, forced marriages, domestic violence, and religious extremism.
The Ministry has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement officers throughout the festive season.
The public has also been encouraged to report suspicious activity or crime to the nearest police station or via toll-free hotlines 999, 911, or 112.
Owners of shopping malls, entertainment venues, and event organisers have been advised to work closely with local security teams to enhance crowd management and strengthen private security arrangements.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure, and orderly festive season for all Kenyans and visitors.
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