Mombasa: Security agencies in Garissa have embraced community engagement programmes aimed at bringing together members of the public and law enforcement officers to find solutions to the arising security concerns. The Programme, which is being supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), also aims to bridge trust between the members of the public and security officials that has been low over the years.

According to Kenya News Agency, Soumana Abubakar, an expert in community engagement and policing at IOM, stated that a survey revealed a lack of trust between the public and security officers, complicating crime resolution. ‘This programme is called community engagement and policing and it is aimed at enhancing human security by ensuring the participation of communities in broader governance. This is an approach where the community members and stakeholders in the remote border areas are not seen as part of the problem but as part of the solution,’ Abubakar said. He added that the public baraza facilitates dialogue between community members and law enforcement agencies to address issues and collaboratively find solutions.

Paul Songok, the Director for Counter Violent Extremism at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), emphasized the crucial role of the public in the security sector, as crimes occur within communities. ‘If our communities decide to take security as their responsibility, criminal activities would reduce significantly. The community engagement programmes help us to bridge the trust deficit that has been there between the public and security in the past years,’ Songok said. He noted improvements in trust through these engagements, with communities now more willing to share information with police, alleviating the fear of reporting.

Songok encouraged the public to provide relevant information for swift investigations, assuring confidentiality of shared information to prevent leaks back into communities. He highlighted the importance of timely information to prevent crimes, aligning with the Inspector General’s advocacy for community-centered security.

Masisi Kiilu, an official from the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), asserted that public engagement is pivotal in combating terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism. ‘We have spoken to the elders, our women and the youth in this area so that we can work against radicalisation, violent extremism and recruitment of our youth to terror groups. We have told them their role in this fight,’ Kiilu said. He emphasized collaboration between the government and communities, alongside stakeholders like NGAO officials, the national police service, and partners such as the IOM, to end violent extremism practices.