By Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi, Kenya: The fight against terrorism received a boost following the opening of a new high-tech centre in Nairobi.
The centre dubbed Kenya Police Operations Centre is located near Kenyatta National Hospital and was funded by British Government. The new offices have state-of-the-art equipment and several interrogation and holding rooms.
Several officers seconded to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) have since been trained on how to handle suspects and newly installed equipment. It will serve as a co-ordination and operations centre on terrorism matters in the region, officials said. British High Commissioner Christian Turner attended the opening of the centre and said his Government is committed in the war on terrorism.
“I am delighted to be here today at the opening of this new police operations centre. The UK’s support for this centre is a further indication of the commitment that UK has to working with Kenya. This centre will help both of our countries deepen our partnership in fighting terrorism,” said Dr Turner.
He said the centre is part of support from UK to increase capacity of Kenya’s counter-terrorism operations. Other support has included donation of a rubber inflatable boat to Lamu police, x-ray equipment for Nairobi’s international airport and air surveillance equipment to counter piracy. Officers at the centre said they have stoppedseveral planned terror activities by arresting suspects and confiscating explosives.
They said the centre supported police contribution to safe and peaceful elections and to the President’s inauguration.
ATPU was established after the 1998 terror attack in Kenya where more than 200 people were killed in a bombing incident on the US Embassy in Nairobi.
Since then, the unit has been struggling to contain terrorism with attacks increasing since 2011 when Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia to hunt down Al-Shabaab.
