Kenya faces multifaceted security challenges across various regions, stemming from cross-border threats, terrorism, and internal instabilities. In all areas of unrest and insecurity where our security actors are deployed, their effectiveness, safety, and ethical conduct are paramount.

Our national security response involves a range of crucial actors: the Kenya Police Service (KPS) with its Critical Infrastructure Protection, Special Operations Group, Rapid Deployment Unit, and Directorate of Investigations; the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS); the National Intelligence Service (NIS); the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA); and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).

Critically, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) already sets the benchmark, with all its personnel undergoing rigorous pre-deployment training at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), where international best practices on gender-based violence (GBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are deeply ingrained, and a comprehensive code of conduct is always signed.

The critical flaw in our current approach is the lack of unified pre-deployment training, consistent ethical standards, and comprehensive human rights instruction across all these other vital agencies when they are deployed to such volatile areas. This disparity compromises the effectiveness, safety, and moral standing of our collective security operations nationwide.

The threats across Kenya’s insecure regions are complex and interconnected, often involving elements like Al-Shabaab’s enduring presence and tactics, the devastating impact of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), porous borders facilitating illicit flows, inter-communal conflicts, and environmental or wildlife crimes that can fund illicit activities. Our security strategy must reflect this multifaceted reality, demanding a response that is not only militarily effective but also ethically sound and consistently applied across all deployed personnel.

Pre-deployment training for all agencies involved in security operations in areas of unrest is not merely an advantage; it is an absolute necessity.

Firstly, it fosters enhanced situational awareness and threat recognition across the board. Every individual, from a KPS officer patrolling in an urban area under threat to a KWS ranger in a national park bordering a conflict zone, needs specific training to understand evolving tactics, recognise indicators of hostile intent, and most crucially, identify and respond to IED threats safely. This comprehensive knowledge, covering everything from basic first aid to secure reporting protocols, is literally life-saving for all personnel.

Secondly, unified training at a single institution vastly improves inter-agency coordination and collaboration. When all actors – KPS units, KWS rangers, KFS officers, KRA personnel, and NIS field agents – train together, they develop a shared understanding of the operational environment, the specific roles of different agencies, and common communication channels. This fosters a “common operating picture” and standardizes procedures for intelligence gathering, incident response, and information sharing, eliminating confusion and maximizing efficiency. Without such integrated coordination, different agencies might inadvertently undermine each other or create dangerous vulnerabilities, leading to costly errors in high-stakes environments.

Thirdly, it directly enhances force protection and self-preservation for everyone. Personnel operating in high-risk environments require consistent training in personal security, evasive maneuvers, basic combat lifesaver skills, and how to react under attack. This is particularly vital for KPS rapid deployment units and KWS/KFS personnel who often operate in remote, isolated areas. Furthermore, pre-deployment training can equip our personnel with the mental and psychological preparedness to cope with the trauma and constant threat inherent in such operations, ensuring their long-term well-being.

Crucially, this unified training must inculcate IPSTC’s international best practices on gender-based violence (GBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). Our personnel must be thoroughly trained to prevent and respond to these grave violations, understanding their devastating impact on individuals and communities, and the absolute necessity of a zero-tolerance policy. This includes clear instruction on identifying and reporting such incidents, safeguarding victims, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators.

Just as KDF personnel are required to, each individual from these other agencies must be required to sign a comprehensive code of conduct, explicitly outlining their responsibilities, adherence to human rights principles, and the severe consequences of misconduct, particularly concerning GBV, CRSV, and SEA.

Finally, unified training promotes adherence to human rights and the rule of law while significantly boosting intelligence gathering and sharing. All deployed individuals must operate within legal frameworks, and training at a centre committed to international standards ensures professional and ethical conduct. Every individual can become a valuable source of intelligence; training on identifying, collecting, and securely reporting information empowers them to contribute significantly to national security, ensuring that crucial insights are not lost due to a lack of shared protocols.

The International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) stands as the ideal institution to deliver this vital, comprehensive training for all these agencies. As an established Centre of Excellence created by the African Union and APSA, IPSTC is not just a Kenyan institution, but an international facility of repute. It benefits from significant investment from the international community, whose representatives are also deeply involved in the manning, training capabilities, and overall strategic direction of IPSTC.

This ensures that IPSTC consistently operates according to international best practices and standards, leveraging a wealth of expertise and rich experiences gained from training peace support operations personnel globally. It has proven capabilities with existing modules on CRSV and gender in peace operations, which are already familiar to KDF. IPSTC offers tailored curricula and has specialized schools providing “Enabler” training relevant to all branches of the KPS, KWS, KFS, KRA, and NIS personnel.

IPSTC’s inherent strength lies in its multi-agency training environment, bringing together military, police, and civilian personnel in joint scenarios that mirror real-world operations. This unique setup fosters inter-agency understanding and cooperation from the outset, allowing for practical application of the code of conduct and GBV/CRSV/SEA prevention protocols in simulated scenarios. As a Kenyan-based institution with international backing, IPSTC possesses an intrinsic understanding of our national security dynamics, allowing for highly relevant and contextualized training that directly addresses the challenges faced in various areas of unrest.

Furthermore, utilizing an in-country institution is both cost-effective and sustainable, building national capacity and expertise. Crucially, training all relevant actors at IPSTC would standardize their knowledge, skills, and ethical operating procedures, creating a truly cohesive, efficient, and morally robust security apparatus across all deployment areas, aligned with the high standards already met by the KDF.

In conclusion, the security challenges facing Kenya demand a unified, well-trained, and ethically grounded response from all deployed actors, regardless of the specific region. The current disparity in comprehensive pre-deployment training, particularly concerning human rights and ethical conduct, leaves critical vulnerabilities exploited by adversaries and hinders overall operational success.

Making comprehensive pre-deployment training at IPSTC mandatory for all involved agencies – including all segments of the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Forest Service, and National Intelligence Service – and ensuring explicit training on gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and the signing of a universal code of conduct, is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity. It is an indispensable investment in the safety and professional integrity of our dedicated personnel and the comprehensive security of our nation, ensuring that every individual on the front lines is fully prepared, collaboratively equipped, and ethically guided to face the unique and dangerous realities of their mission, to the same high standard as our KDF.

Col(rtd) I K Guleid, MBS is a Defence and Security Consultant.