Kenya is yet to start the construction of a Sh60 million Anti-Terrorism Centre in Mombasa despite funding from the UK government.
This has necessitated the intervention of UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott, who together with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i visited the site on Friday.
During the ground-breaking ceremony in April, it was announced that the centre would be ready by the end of the year.
“We have seen, tragically, in the recent months and years the effects of terrorism menaces. It has struck us in the UK it has struck us here in Kenya and recently in Sri Lanka,” the then British High Commissioner Nic Hailey said, noting that the centre was planned to be completed by the end of the year.
Less than three months to year-end, construction is yet to start.
DCI George Kinoti and DPP Noordin Haji were also present.
“With the ground-breaking of this new centre, in the near future, we will no longer sit and be an environment where criminals can find grace,” said Kinoti said then.
In defence of the government, Matiang’i said they wanted to make sure they do things “differently”.
“We want to do things differently. We have put together a technical committee that meets very often to plan this project. We have also been meeting and we will continue meeting until we deliver this project,” he said on Friday.
Matiang’i said the Kenyan government will put up similar projects in other parts of the country to intensify the war on terrorism.
High Commissioner Marriott said Kenya and the UK will continue to partner in the fight against terror.
“Terrorism is an international problem that Kenya and the UK share. We will continue working together to protect all our citizens,” she said.
“Once completed, the project which is sponsored by the British government is envisaged to enhance operations of the Anti Terror Police Unit across the Coastal region,” Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said.
