Collaboration efforts key to improving national security
Danson Mwashako
In the recent past, cases of insecurity have been rampant in different parts. Exactly how such disheartening acts have continued to infiltrate areas we rarely imagined – such as our rural villages – aren’t clear yet.
And, in the foregoing, one antidote remains key to counter this rising monster: to join hands and fight the common enemy.
Indeed, Kenya has continued to make great strides in security development, but fact is; the government alone cannot do it all.
With indicating we had about 101,288 police officers in 2019, we must realise this is way below the UN recommended police to citizens ratio of 1:450.
In light of the above, more genuine yet urgent questions stare at us: How should we strengthen the efforts as societies?
Is there room for improving security where collaborative efforts are involved? And, is this really going to lower the rising crime rate?
In my opinion, all is possible.
According to the Economic Survey of 2020 by KNBS crime rate has been on the rise since 2018.
And with Covid, there is no doubt the economy is tested to limits never seen recently and loss of jobs being experienced, the rate may go even higher.
Further, with mental health cases also rising as a result of the pandemic, a prompt action to the use of community policing initiatives such as Nyumba Kumi needs to be enforced.
Indeed, it is not debatable that community policing plays crucial part in improving security.
In fact, if well implemented, this is the remedy to the many challenges facing us, including cases around inter-communities.
As community policing plays its part, the ball must keep rolling from the authorities’ side.
Entities like Constituency Development Fund and the National government must relook at avenues they can plug in and improve citizens’ infrastructure on security. This can be done by allocating more resources.
For instance, when there were rampant crime incidents in a village in my Lushangonyi constituency, residents raised concerns of the need to have a police post and with close collaboration with the National government, the police post is now complete and ready for opening.
As NG-CDF and the National government play their part, county governments must also play theirs.
Through County Commissioners, who chair the County Security Committees, there is need to raise the bar on infrastructure developments to weaken possibilities of rising crime rate.
With statistics from this year’s Datareportal Digital Report, indicating there are 21.75 million Internet users as of January, we cannot underestimate the power of digital platforms in improving security.
Through collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations platforms like Fichua Initiative, there is a lot that can be achieved.
The use of WhatsApp or Facebook platforms can also be used in our communities to create awareness on security as well as creating security ambassadors around our communities.
As President Uhuru Kenyatta once said, standing together and bonding with one another, is indeed stronger than any weapon we might have.
And, above that, we all have a responsibility on matters security, rule of law as well as governance.
As we continue to condemn the continued vices in our communities, we must also lead the way in ensuring we foster good relations between the people and the authorities.
Undeniably, these efforts will eventually yield fruits of peace and prosperity in our societies.
As those results get attained, the need to nurture consistent commitment towards the efforts should also be paramount.
To ensure the collaborative efforts work out best and for a long time, we should not relent or lower guard in our day-to-day efforts of improving our security. - The writer is Member of Parliament, Wundanyi Constituency
