The Government has stepped up efforts to strengthen grassroots security, combat drug trafficking and improve access to public services, with National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) directed to enhance intelligence gathering, community policing and the registration of eligible Kenyans for National Identity Cards.
Speaking during a meeting with NGAOs in Mombasa, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo said the county’s strategic position as home to the Port of Mombasa makes its security vital to Kenya’s economy, tourism, trade and investment.
Dr. Omollo instructed County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Village Elders to deepen collaboration with security agencies and local communities to tackle organised crime, criminal gangs, violent extremism, drug trafficking and substance abuse.
“Mombasa is one of Kenya’s most important economic hubs. Whatever happens here affects not only the Coast region but the entire country.
We must therefore safeguard peace and security to create an environment where businesses thrive, investments grow, tourists visit and our people access economic opportunities,” he said.
The PS described drug and substance abuse as one of the greatest threats facing young people, warning that traffickers continue to exploit vulnerable youth for profit, undermining families, communities and the country’s future workforce.
He called for closer cooperation between communities, the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Judiciary, schools, religious leaders and parents to dismantle drug trafficking networks while supporting prevention and rehabilitation programmes.
Dr. Omollo urged Village Elders, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to remain vigilant, identify drug hotspots and work closely with communities to shield young people from addiction and crime.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots administration through the operationalisation of all gazetted administrative units, noting that effective service delivery and security begin at the village level.
He said Village Elders, working alongside Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, have become an integral part of the country’s security architecture through community policing, the Nyumba Kumi initiative, conflict resolution and mobilisation for government programmes.
The PS noted that NGAOs play a broader role beyond maintaining law and order by coordinating government programmes, resolving disputes, responding to emergencies and ensuring communities benefit from the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He emphasised that peace and security remain the foundation for the Government’s economic transformation agenda, saying key sectors such as agriculture, affordable housing, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), healthcare, the digital economy and the Blue Economy can only thrive in a stable environment.
On education, Dr. Omollo said the Government has allocated KSh787.4 billion—the largest share of the current national budget—to the sector.
He urged administrators to work closely with parents, schools and the Ministry of Education to sustain school enrolment, improve retention and promote skills development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The PS also praised Mombasa County for attaining an 83 per cent registration rate under the Social Health Authority (SHA), describing it as one of the country’s best-performing counties.
He said the achievement reflected strong collaboration between NGAOs, the county government and the Ministry of Health in expanding access to affordable healthcare.
On the issuance of identification documents, Dr. Omollo directed administrators to intensify the registration and collection of National Identity Cards, saying the document is essential for accessing education, employment, financial services, government programmes and democratic rights.
He said the Government had recently engaged leaders from across the Coast region to review progress and address challenges affecting the issuance of identity documents, adding that the success of the exercise depends on the commitment of NGAOs at the grassroots.
Dr. Omollo concluded by commending National Government Administrative Officers for their professionalism, resilience and dedication to public service, assuring them of continued government support through improved facilitation, capacity building and operational resources to enhance peace, security and service delivery.
The meeting was attended by Coast Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, Mombasa County Commissioner Mohammed Hassan, as well as members of the Regional and County Security Intelligence Committees.
READ ALSO;
Lobby Groups Renew Push for Two-Year Freeze on Kenya’s Public Borrowing
