Government moves to seal loopholes that could have allowed terrorists to enter Kenya

By MWANIKI MUNUHE

Former District Commissioners have been recruited to manage crucial areas within the Immigrations department, it has emerged.

At least 16 former provincial administrations had reported to Nyayo house to take up their new roles as from Wednesday.

The departments that will forthwith fall under the watch of former provincial administrators include the Passports section, Airports and in the boarder points.

Equally affected by the changes is the investigations and prosecutions department which is in charge of investigation and prosecuting all immigrations related offences.

“It is true the director of Immigrations made several administrative changes across the department to boost efficiency in service delivery. In our commitment to enhance security considerations in conducting various operations, we have introduced officers with sufficient knowledge and experience in security matters who include among others former district commissioners,” said a highly placed source at the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of government affairs under whose docket the department of Immigrations fall.

Among those who have taken new roles at the Immigrations department include former district commissioners Soba Kivalia (Deputy Secretary in charge of Investigations and prosecution) and former Nyeri District Commissioner Wanyoike who will take charge at the airports.

“We have had to take these bold steps because immigrations is more of a security issue. We have new threats every day; we certainly need to be ahead of such people. We have always been ahead of them in the past but we want to make that even better. It is because of this reason and we must have officers with sufficient security knowledge and experience heading crucial areas,” he added.

Reached for a comment, the director of Immigrations Jane Waikenda admitted that her department has made some changes but declined to give details.

“All I can tell you is that yes we have had to do one or two adjustment here and there but all in all the motive is just to ensure better quality of service to our people and most importantly too ensure that everybody coming into the country is meets the necessary conditions to be allowed into the country. The only objective it to make the country good for everybody,” she said.

This came amid reports that the government has also launched a campaign dubbed ‘Stop and think campaign’ aimed at popularizing patriotism amongst various immigrations officers in service delivery.

“The campaign is essentially meant to tell every officer that before you stamp that document, before you issue that passport, Identity card or citizenship can you stop for once and think about the country. Can you think about your own security as a citizen of this country? That is the way we want to work,” said Waikenda.