Nairobi, October 8, 2019

Global security experts at the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Conference have unanimously called for vigilance among the Government agencies charged with implementing security regulations, as well as the bodies mandated with the formulation of policies and legislation intended to govern national security, as a key solution to the rising security crises across the world.

The second and final day of the forum which has brought together participants from across the world, was dominated by discussions on how to counter Money Laundering, Terrorism, Corruption, and Anti-Corruption, highly regarded as the significant contributors of instability among nations. Security experts at the forum, in their submissions called for goodwill among all parties charged with countering these vices, even as they rooted for increased vigilance and urged for commitment among all peace loving nations to the war against security threats facing the globe today.

Citing Nigeria as an example of a country whose fight against corruption and money laundering has positively grown over the years, Idris Muhammed from the Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria, advised that strengthening the resources and infrastructure of the institutions charged with security service delivery is the foremost way through which governments can ensure the success and sustainability of the efforts to counter security threats.

Adding her voice to the debate, Maureen Mutua from Aden Management consultants, further underpinned advocacy for personal responsibility as the best solution to countering money laundering. The expert further reiterated the fact that no legislation can control morality, hence the need to encourage individual responsibility in desisting from money laundering, even as she called upon government agencies to tighten  their regulatory framework on monetary activities.

But the session did not escape the rigorous that characterize such high level consultations. During a presentation by Scott Crino, the founder and CEO of Red Six Solutions- a security company based in the USA , it emerged that there is a renewed push for the use of drones as security monitors for faster intelligence gathering and subsequent mitigation of imminent threats. It was however noted that this approach demands proper financial investments by security agencies, as well as the deployment of unquestionable expertise for attainment of best results. The forum also observed that use of drones can also be very intrusive thus posing threats to a nation’s security with regard to information management and security, a fact that the security experts acknowledged while pointing out the importance of signing legal agreements before such extreme measures are incorporated in the security systems.

But the acknowledgement did not come without a rider; a justification for the suggested incorporation of the use of drones for security surveillance and intelligence gathering was upheld, with some expert presenters noting that with the use of drones in areas like the Kenya-Somalia border by Alshaabab insurgents, there is need to concert efforts to adapt a match up with to defeat the deployment of advanced technology by these insurgents, so as to expose their activities. The forum thus underscored the need for governments to employ even more sophisticated means of surveillance so as to be in tandem with the changing trends of security threats.

At the conclusion of the convention, calls were made for Parliaments across the world to prioritize legislations against terrorism, and to ensure that the already set-up international frameworks are adhered to, if the joint effort to eradicate terrorism are to be achieved.

In his presentation, the Head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency, William Kimani, also called on the members of the UN Security council to continuously reiterate their stand on the categorization of insurgencies like the Alshabab and Al-Qaeda as terrorist groups, urging the global and national leaders to pronounce themselves equivocally on these issues, as a constant affirmation of their commitment to fight terror globally.

During the closing session, Kenya’s Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, lauded parliament, and in particular the Committee on Administration and National Security, for organizing the conference. He noted that by Kenya hosting the forum, the country had demonstrated her leadership in the war against all forms of insecurity within the region and beyond.

“The successful organization of this event and subsequently remarkable turnout of participants is a clear demonstration of the confidence that the international community has bestowed upon our country. This engagement has definitely amplified the link between intelligence and security agencies.” said Dr. Matiang’i.

While enumerating the milestones achieved by Kenya in the last few years with regard to the war against terrorism, money laundering, and corruption, CS Mating’i placed a good working relationship between parliament and the executive at the centre of this great success. The forum which was in 14^th edition has ended this evening.