Coast Regional Commissioner (RC) Rhoda Onyancha has assured the county residents and both local and international tourists of a secure holiday season ahead of the festive period at the coast.
Coast being one of the major tourist hubs in Kenya, the RC affirmed the government’s plans and set strategies to ensure residents and visitors have a smooth and secure region for the festivities.
In a media briefing at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), Mombasa the regional commissioner said that under the operational order, each county has identified areas they will cover and ensure the coastal community have a peaceful season.
Onyancha noted that they have had a calm year since February which she said is attributed to a multi-agency approach in tackling security concerns.
“We have so far evaluated ourselves and we have done well as a team. Each county has come up with an operational order on how they cover security during the festive season. We have so many events in Mombasa, even other guests in other counties will be visiting the Coast region, there was a successful Malindi event in Lamu, and we are sure this season will be peaceful. We agreed at the sub county level that we are going to work together, our teams have synergized, and it has contributed to the peace and tranquility in the Coast region,” she said.
She said that they have come up with a multiagency command center that will be established to react to emergencies raised by people in the region.
These include toll free emergency contacts like 911, 112, 999, thus calling upon citizens to share intelligence reports on any form of abuse or breach to security.
She added that various partners like Reinvent have been a major supporter to the regional security committee chaired by the RC to ensure there is peace in the region.
She said there will be enhanced security personnel at shopping malls, beaches, tourist resorts and places of worship, border areas and other places where people spend most of their time during the festivities.
The RC disclosed that the team have tamed machete welding gangs in the notorious Likoni and Kisauni sub-counties following an intensified and sustained police crackdown.
She warned that police will not relent but deal with pickpocketing and mugging by a team specifically set to tackle the menace and through the multiagency way, the RC said all officers are going to work together to secure the region from normal crime.
She urged parents to be on the lookout for their children and properties as they are at the beach having fun.
The RC reiterated that during the last season there were many cases of lost children thus urging parents and guardians to check on their kids especially girls whereas cases of femicide and sexual assaults are rampant.
“There will be international visitors, we are ensuring we are going to secure our borders, we are all alert, and we ensure free movement of people and goods and that no criminal can come in and jeopardize our security,” added the RC.
On the issue of counterfeiting goods, she noted that the team is going to secure the border to ensure no illegal goods are brought into the country.
She said the team involved in the fight against drug and substance abuse will continue with their operation as there has been a spirited fight since March.
She said that they have curbed four tones of cannabis sativa across the region with the biggest haul coming from Kwale and Kilifi counties.
She added that during the raid they also captured 3.4 kilograms of heroin and 400grams of cocaine.
Onyacha said that since the Coast counties have structured infrastructure development, the team have put all plans in place to control traffic snarl up but strategizing on how to manage traffic effectively during this period along the city and corridors.
She added that noise pollution is also controlled in bars and churches, noting that it should be at a level that is not affecting your neighbor.
She further urged the business community to work with the security agencies through the community policing so that they are able to be assisted on whatever challenges they are facing.
To leaders, the RC asked them to continue preaching peace and support the security team to secure the region since it’s a holiday destination and to attract investors.
On his part Regional Police Commander George Seda shared his sentiments that the National Police Service will not relent to any kind of criminal activity in the region.
Seda noted that all police units in the police service will work in unison to secure residents and tourists visiting the Coast region.
By Chari Suche
