State adopts new measures to control border movement 

The government has put in place adequate measures at the country's borders to deal with security challenges and facilitate the smooth clearance and legitimate cross-border movement of people and goods.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, said the opening of the borders and the introduction of visa-free regime, the shared travel and trade spaces had also become common grounds for criminals. The measures seek to stave off security threats at ports of entry and exits (POEs), enhance legitimate trade and travel, and completely eliminate the silo mentality.

The POEs include land, air and maritime borders. Dr Omollo said the strategies have seen crimes including terrorism, human and drug trafficking, smuggling and other transnational organised crimes reduced.

"It has also led to a well-coordinated sharing of intelligence, increased revenue collection, continued seizures of contraband, faster turnaround time at our points of entry and exit, and the adoption of technology to ease movement and clearance of people and goods," he said.

Though a secure borderline creates a healthy and enabling environment for national and regional development, the government has warned that there are so-corky challenges that come with the opening up of borders.

Ensure efficiency Omollo, who is also the chair of the Border Control and Coordination Operations Committee (BCOCC), yesterday said Kenya has come up with at least five strategies to ensure efficiency and security at the various POEs.

collectionThe BCOCC has established better and coordinated approaches to data collection and analysis, and this has translated to improved capacity and effectiveness in Kenya's individual and joint operations.

There is also enhanced sharing of information and resources among various law enforcement agencies, and it is now easier to identify and respond to threats of a hybrid nature, including cross-border and transnational organized crimes.

"In this regard, we are progressively reducing the use of forged travel documents; illegal migration; human trafficking; smuggling of weapons; trafficking of narcotics; and laundering of money among other crimes," the PS said. These achievements have had a tremendous ripple effect on national security, which is a critical driver and enabler of sustainable development.

Clearance of persons

The government has also significantly improved the clearance of persons at the POEs and increased trade volumes due to smooth movement of people and goods across the borders.

Omollo also said the threat landscape is constantly evolving, and the country has also invested in the latest and advanced technologies, data and artificial intelligence and other resources at the borders to combat complex security threats.

On December 18 last year, the government launched the Border Security and Control curriculum as one of the measures to bolster security at such points. Already, front-line border officers have been trained and equipped with the relevant knowledge and up-to-date skills to tackle metamorphosing border challenges.

Other measures are regional integration to harmonize border control policies, actively applying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and efficiency in border operations across all ports of entry and exit.

To ensure a robust entry and exit system, the government is in the process of opening more points of entry (POEs). In October last year, for example, the government also established the seventh port of entry and exit in IlleretWard, Mars-abit county.

The PS said the agencies were also working closely with the local communities who are uniquely positioned to identify suspicious activities and individuals in their midst. The efforts culminated in a regional conference that ends today (Thursday) that was being held in Nairobi.

The Inaugural National Border Management Conference focused on the identification of critical factors enabling as well as those hindering effective coordination among key players and the different ministries and departments operating in the POEs.