Protection of Public Spaces against terrorism in Kenya

The protection of public spaces is key to social, political and economic development in every society. Protecting these spaces, such as markets, shopping malls, stadiums, entertainment venues, places of worship, train stations and airports, requires preventive and responsive measures, interagency coordination and the development of capacities of law enforcement and security agencies.

Addressing a Growing Threat through Sustainable Training

The terrorist threat has not gone away; in fact, it has evolved. Protecting public spaces remains a high priority for both the EU and Africa. Public Spaces + is providing train-the-trainers programmes to Kenyan institutions in key areas such as command and control, UAVs and C-UAVs, risk analysis, tactical snipers, K-9 intervention, search and detection, and tactical first response and medical response.

As part of the project methodology, these training programmes will be replicated in Kenya by the newly trained instructors, who will adapt them to local needs and incorporate them into their capacity development training programs.  The project will also develop handbooks and provide equipment to reinforce capacities. Kenya seeks to institutionalize the trainings taking advantage of the GSU Training Centre and the KPS K-9 Academy, setting up a permanent training capacity architecture with the highest standards and a strong number of instructors in these areas.

Training in action

Between 23 March and 3 April, a total of 14 Kenyan officers will be trained to qualify as either tactical snipers or K-9 intervention handlers. These roles are fundamental to the tactical protection of public spaces. Adopting a practical approach, the training will focus on developing and deploying individual skills in teams and in larger public space operations.

The instructors are eight Kenyan officers who completed a training programme in Spain in September, covering the same subjects. Spanish Guardia Civil instructors from the EU will be on hand to provide support and ensure quality. The training will take place at the KPS K-9 Academy and GSU Training Centre in Nairobi and is coordinated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

See first-hand the progress

On March 25th, the Kenyan NCTC invited the political advisers from the EU member state embassies, as well as the PS+ team in Kenya, two delegations from Ghana and Senegal, and representatives of the High Risk Security Network and Spanish Guardia Civil, to observe the activities first-hand. This presented a unique opportunity to meet up the Kenyan and Spanish trainers, as well as the officers receiving training, and learn from their experiences in Spain and Kenya. Attendees were able to assess the importance and impact of these trainings in protecting public spaces in Kenya and in enhancing individual and organisational capacities.

About Public Spaces +

Public Spaces + is implemented under the EU Global Threats programme, funded by the European Union.

The EU-funded project works with three partners in Africa: Kenya, Ghana and Senegal, all of which are neighbours to the main epicentres of terrorism. 

The project aims at strengthening the capacity of partner countries by developing sustainable training systems that are integrated into their curricula, all while adhering to the highest methodological standards and fully respecting human rights, gender equality, and the rule of law, in line with the EU's political priorities for security and counterterrorism.

For more information, download the project factsheet.