Matiang’i in UK for security talks with officials

Dr. Fred Matiang’i met the UK Security Minister, Ben Wallace, and the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, for a high-level security dialogue to review the progress made against the objectives of the Kenya-UK Security Compact. [Photo: Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i at the weekend held talks with authorities in the United Kingdom on security matters.

Dr Matiang’i held meetings with UK Security Minister Ben Wallace and the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tariq Ahmad.

The officials discussed possible areas of co-operation on countering violent extremism, border and aviation security, and criminal justice.

The CS, who was accompanied by officials from the National Police Service, said Kenya had learnt lessons from the UK on how to handle security crises and minimising casualties.

Matiang’i cited the recent response to the DusitD2 terror attack in Nairobi in January, where, compared to previous incidents, security forces responded faster thus saving lives of more than 700 people.

Mr Wallace said there had been productive discussions on counter-terrorism and serious organised crime in the meeting, which was dubbed "UK-Kenya Security Dialogue".

Kenya is a key partner in tackling these global challenges,” said Wallace on Twitter.

The UK is one of Kenya’s allies in counter-terrorism programmes, which have included training of Kenyan security forces on disaster crisis management and other security response measures such as cyber security and investigations.

The meeting came two weeks after the British government announced Sh3.9 billion funding for security and development projects in Africa.

The UK announced in February that the projects form part of a programme to invest in the continent and strengthen relations with the African Union (AU).

The money is to be used in training peacekeepers in Kenya and assist in programmes for free and fair elections. It will also be spent on implementing the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.