FILE | NATION Internal Security minister George Saitoti (left), his PS Francis Kimemia and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere at a past meeting. Security agencies have their plates full this year with myriad challenges.
By SAMWEL KUMBA skumba@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Friday, December 31 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
- From terrorism, criminal gangs, the new alcohol law to drug cartels, security agencies have work cut out
The government finds itself with a full plate of security tasks it must address locally and internationally this year.
They range from the decision to freeze accounts holding money from organised crime, establishing a drug enforcement agency to fight supply and use of drugs, fighting terrorism and implementing the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.
All these, according to Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia, must be done starting Saturday.
Freeze accounts
Mr Kimemia, told the Saturday Nation, that the government had profiled some of the accounts of the various criminal gangs and is set to freeze them.
“We have tracked down even their property and the companies they have formed from the proceeds of their criminal activities and we are taking action any minute from tomorrow (Saturday),” said the PS.
The mandate by the government to freeze these accounts is provided for by the Prevention of Organised Criminal Act 2010.
“The law allows us to freeze such accounts including those linked to al Shabaab and al-Qaeda."
The PS appealed to the government to prioritise projects that would uplift the youth economically so that they are not tempted to join criminal gangs.
“We know all the leaders of organised gangs from the sub-location to the national level. We are only waiting to act,” said Mr Kimemia.
Human trafficking
The government had identified 20 Ethiopians and Somalis in the country who were trafficking humans from the two countries, said Mr Kimemia.
According to him, within a week, the human traffickers transport up to 100 Somalis and Ethiopians to various destinations in Africa and other parts of the world.
Anti-drugs agency
The PS said the government would form an independently funded Drug Enforcement Agency before the end of this month to tackle the drug issue widespread especially at the Coast.
To take the war against drugs a notch higher, the PS said this month, the government would draw a rapid results initiative specifically on two issues: drugs and implementation of the Alcohol Control Act.
Alcohol Control
Another undertaking for the ministry this year will be to strictly implement the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act to ensure there are “more schools” than bars.
The PS said the government was also discussing with her neighbours so that they can share information on terrorism to be able to fight the vice effectively.
“We have instructed all the 286 district liquor licensing boards up to January 15 to give a list of the licences they have issued bearing in mind the new regulations,” said the PS.
There will be special monitors, at least one in every county to ensure compliance with the new Act.
Sudan referendum
“We are also monitoring the referendum in Southern Sudan as we appeal to foreign agencies determined to scuttle the process through vote buying and intimidation, especially here in Kenya that we know their activities and will arrest them,” said Mr Kimemia.
Police Reforms
With the passage of the new constitution there are offices that were created including the inspector general and the deputy together with the ongoing police reforms which we must finish at the earliest opportunity to avoid any inconveniences.
Terrorism threat
The PS said the ministry was aware that al Shabaab is forming an alliance with other groups of extremist Muslims.
“We are installing electronic monitoring devices to record any movements along our borders,” said the PS.
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