Shandong training boosts Kenya's anti-terror methods

A team of 20 security officers has returned to Kenya after a month of training in eastern China to sharpen their skills in combating terrorism.

The officers, drawn from the Kenya Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, were put through their paces at Shandong Police College between July 2 and 22.

As well as lectures on international security cooperation, public affairs management and anti-terrorism legislation, the students also spent time in the field with local security bureaus.

Top and above: Security officers from Kenya get training at Shandong Police College. Photos Provided to China Daily

The classes were proactive and interactive, says Li Yinong, deputy director of the college's investigation department. "They were interested in finding solutions, and how China has stayed so secure over the years," he says.

Grace Otieno, principal administrative secretary for Kenya's Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, says the officers learned invaluable lessons from China on how to improve peace and security back home.

Values such as time management, vigilance, trust and accountability are important in developing security strategies, she says, adding that it will buoy foreign investors' confidence in Kenya.

The college is in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, while the program was sponsored by China's ministries of commerce and public security.

Superintendent Lameck Maragia of the KPS, one of those who took part in the training, says he found China's surveillance system to be highly advanced.

"Little goes unnoticed. You can be sure that many illegal activities are thwarted at the infancy stage," he says, adding that cybercrime is also a priority. "I believe this is why the country has very low incidences of terrorism, while the world is grappling to put a lid on it."

In recent years, the world has seen an increase in terror attacks. In Africa, groups such as Boko Haram and al-Shabaab have wreaked havoc in eastern and western areas, which has led governments to boost their security budgets substantially.

Officers from Bukina Faso were also studying at the college on a separate program at the same time.

"Crime is dynamic, and terrorism has become fluid, even as security agencies work toward preventive strategies," Maragia says. "We're sharpening our skills in surveillance and intelligence collection to try to get ahead of the criminals."

One area highlighted in the training was how to formulate laws while also intercepting funding for terrorist activities.

"We're aligning our laws to strengthen our security agencies, and the training affirmed we're going in he right direction," Mariga adds.

Kenya passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 2014. However, he says terrorist funding channels have become sophisticated, mainly due to the advance in technology, and believes more effort is needed to develop and strengthen strategies to disrupt this pattern.

"In the group, we had mid-level officers with anti-terror units who I believe benefited massively from seeing how internet surveillance can be pushed up a notch," Mariga says. "Others came from training institutions, and I know they will incorporate these lessons into the programs to make new recruits smarter and better prepared."

He says he is looking forward to more training programs in China and believes specialization in cybercrime would go a long way in beefing up anti-terrorism efforts in African nations.

Li agrees, saying the Shandong program is an effective way to promote mutual trust and cooperation in global public security.

"The Kenyan group also had classes on police customs and traditions to enhance mutual understanding and trust," he adds.

Zhao Ruixue contributed to this story.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/05/2016 page3)