By Patrick Chiriba

The government has unveiled a detailed security plan aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens and visitors during the festive season.

Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS), Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS, speaking at Harambee House in Nairobi, assured the public of the government’s readiness to tackle crime, safeguard public safety, and address emerging threats. 

“The government upholds the rule of law and will deal firmly with any criminal acts in accordance with the law. This underscores our unwavering commitment to protect the rights of all while maintaining public order," Mudavadi said.

He called on Kenyans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, report any criminal activities or suspicious behaviour, and inform local authorities.

This, according to Mudavadi, can “make a significant difference in building a safer society.”

Security Gains and Persistent Challenges

Mudavadi highlighted significant gains in combating crime, including a reduction in robberies, break-ins, and corruption cases.

However, he raised concerns over increased vandalism targeting power infrastructure, with 114 cases reported in 2024. 

“These acts of sabotage not only disrupt service delivery but also cause severe economic losses,” Mudavadi said, adding that 81 cases are already in court, with 33 under investigation. 

In the North Rift, he noted the multi-agency Operation Maliza Uhalifu's success, which has led to a 62% drop in cattle rustling incidents.

The Foreign Affairs CS stated that the coordinated efforts of security forces have restored peace in previously volatile areas, detailing the recovery of over 14,000 stolen cattle and 240 surrendered firearms. 

Despite these successes, Mudavadi acknowledged the heavy toll of insecurity in the region. "Unfortunately, 179 civilians were killed and 4 officers also lost their lives,” he remarked. 

Confronting Femicide and Gender-Based Violence 

Mudavadi expressed alarm over the rising cases of femicide, with 100 women murdered between August and November 2024.

“The worrying trend of emerging cases of femicide has brought to the forefront the underlying and ongoing violations of the rights of mainly women.” he said. 

To address the crisis, the government has established a Missing Persons Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and is forming a Presidential Working Group on Femicide.

“The team, to be gazetted soon, is expected to deliver actionable proposals to address femicide within 90 days of its creation,” he revealed. 

Additionally, over 7,100 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) were reported from September 2023 to December 2024, with Nairobi County recording the highest numbers.

Road Safety and Festive Season Preparedness

With December known for heightened road accidents, Mudavadi urged all motorists, especially Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers on long-distance routes, to drive carefully and obey traffic regulations. 

To curb road accidents, the government will intensify highway patrols, enforce vehicle roadworthiness, and crack down on illegal and unlicensed Public Service Vehicles.

“Every officer must be actively engaged in monitoring, reporting and addressing any issues of non-compliance to road safety regulations. This is critical to the National Road Safety Goal of reducing road traffic fatalities by 50% before 2028,” said the Prime CS. 

Digital Transformation and Public Services

Highlighting advancements in service delivery, Mudavadi lauded the onboarding of over 22,000 services on the e-Citizen platform and the processing of 1.4 million electronic travel authorizations.

“We closed down over 1,130 pay bills and created a single pay bill 222222 for payment of all government services. This has resulted in the collection of approximately sh.900 million daily,” he noted. 

He also reported a clearing of passport processing backlogs and the establishment of new immigration offices in Kericho and Bungoma.

“To encourage the uptake of job opportunities arising out of the government's efforts to secure foreign jobs for its citizens, the Directorate also set up special desks to hasten the issuance of passports,” Mudavadi said.

Public Collaboration and Unity

Mudavadi called on Kenyans to partner with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and remaining vigilant against misinformation on social media.

“We request citizens to be vigilant to sensationalist social media posts and seek to verify the authenticity of any information posted online,” he appealed. 

As the nation prepares to usher in 2025, Mudavadi urged Kenyans to stay united and prioritize safety.  

“May we cross over to 2025 with renewed hope and a steadfast commitment to each other and our beloved homeland,” he concluded.