Kenya and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of security, law enforcement, and border management as both nations seek to deepen their longstanding partnership.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, said the collaboration between Kenya and China continues to expand beyond infrastructure and trade into security and governance.
“Kenya and China continue to deepen their socio-cultural and economic cooperation anchored on mutual respect and a shared interest in the development of the two nations,” said Murkomen.
The CS, who held bilateral discussions with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, noted that the partnership has been instrumental in improving Kenya’s internal security systems.
“We appreciate China for its invaluable partnership with our country on infrastructure development under the Belt and Road Initiative, among other projects,” he said, adding that Beijing’s support has been of great assistance to Kenya’s development and modernization efforts.
Murkomen also revealed that the two countries discussed ways to enhance cooperation, particularly in security infrastructure, border management, and combating transnational crime, which continue to challenge the region.
Ambassador Guo, on her part, reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with Kenya to build capacity and strengthen the country’s law enforcement mechanisms.
“I paid a courtesy call on Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen and discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of law enforcement and security,” said Guo. “China will continue supporting Kenya to achieve its development aspirations and maintain stability.”
Today’s discussions are part of collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing security through cooperation, information sharing, and the integration of technology for improved safety.
During the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, an action plan was unveiled. A key highlight of this plan is the commitment to strengthen China-Africa collaboration in areas such as cybersecurity, emergency response, information sharing, and the cross-border management of cyber incidents. Additionally, there is a focus on bolstering national Computer Emergency Response Teams.
The two parties also pledged to enhance cooperation in peacekeeping operations and counterterrorism, particularly in regions like the Horn of Africa, Sahel, and Cabo Delgado, which have been identified for increased support. Furthermore, there is a commitment to combat small arms proliferation, violent extremism, illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.
