The government has rolled out enhanced security and safety measures across the country as Kenyans prepare to travel and celebrate during the festive season.
In a statement, authorities noted that the holiday period is traditionally marked by increased domestic and international travel, heightened social activities, and a surge in tourism.
While the overall security situation remains calm and stable, officials cautioned that past trends show the season can experience isolated cases of crime, traffic violations, and other opportunistic incidents.
To safeguard the lives and property of citizens and visitors, the government has implemented six key measures.
First, the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) has been activated to coordinate surveillance, intelligence sharing, and rapid response before, during, and after the festive season.
The centre brings together officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, National Youth Service, and the National Government Administration. Similar coordination centres have also been established at regional and county levels to strengthen command and control.
These efforts are supported by festive season operation orders issued by the National Police Service to ensure intelligence-led security operations nationwide.
Second, security deployment has been significantly reinforced, with officers drawn from the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, National Youth Service, and the Kenya Coast Guard Service.
All officers previously on leave have resumed duty and have been stationed at airports, border crossings, and other entry and exit points, as well as high-traffic areas such as hotels, shopping malls, beaches, tourist sites, central business districts, places of worship, entertainment venues, and critical infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence is also providing logistical and air support where required, in addition to securing the country against external threats.
Third, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), working with the Traffic Police Department, has launched a nationwide traffic operation to improve traffic flow and enhance road safety on major highways and urban roads.
In line with resolutions by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), the operation includes multi-agency coordination, information sharing, joint enforcement, and increased visibility in high-risk corridors.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers have also been deployed to monitor enforcement and deter corruption, while mobile courts and both physical and electronic enforcement measures will be used where necessary.
Fourth, Regional and County Security Committees have intensified counter-terrorism preparedness and the implementation of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) County Action Plans.
Surveillance and security operations have been heightened, particularly around critical infrastructure and large public gatherings.
Fifth, a nationwide crackdown on illicit brews and drug abuse has been launched, led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
In collaboration with national government administrative officers and the police, the operation aims to curb the production, sale, and consumption of illegal substances, which authorities say pose a serious threat to public safety.
Finally, security agencies have escalated operations against organized criminal gangs in Nairobi, the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Central, and Eastern regions.
Targeted enforcement has also been stepped up to address cultural and social crimes, including female genital mutilation (FGM), defilement, early pregnancies, forced marriages, domestic violence, and religious extremism.
The government has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with law enforcement officers, emphasizing that public safety is a shared responsibility.
Motorists have been advised to plan their journeys in advance, adjust travel schedules, and use alternative routes to avoid congestion.
Travelers heading from Nairobi to Western and Nyanza regions have been encouraged to use the Nairobi–Suswa–Narok route as an alternative to the Mai Mahiu escarpment, while those traveling through the Central region may consider the Nairobi–Nyeri–Nyahururu–Nakuru route for smoother travel.
In the spirit of community policing, citizens have been encouraged to report suspicious activities or crimes to the nearest police station or through the toll-free hotlines 999, 911, or 112.
Owners of shopping malls, entertainment venues, and event organizers have also been advised to work closely with local security teams to strengthen crowd management and private security arrangements.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure, and orderly festive season for all Kenyans and visitors.
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