Government, Private Sector Unite to Strengthen Security at Major Events

The government has announced a new partnership with the private sector aimed at enhancing security management and disaster preparedness during major events across the country.

Speaking at a meeting between the Ministry of Interior and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) at Harambee House, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo said conference tourism and large-scale events are vital to Kenya’s economy and must be safeguarded.

“Tourism and events are a vital part of the economy. From international sporting tournaments and concerts to political gatherings, conferences and community celebrations, events create jobs, attract visitors and support thousands of businesses,” the two sides said in a joint statement.

The KEPSA delegation, which included representatives from the Events Managers Association of Kenya (EMAK) and the Bouncers Association of Kenya, met Dr Omollo to deliberate on improving security for businesses, conferences and public gatherings.

As part of the new collaboration, a multi-stakeholder working group will be formed under the leadership of the Internal Security Principal Administrative Secretary to develop a National Event Safety and Security Framework. The framework will establish minimum safety standards for different types of events and strengthen coordination among stakeholders.

The working group will enhance collaboration between police, emergency services, private security providers and event organizers, while also improving risk assessment and disaster preparedness protocols.

“The new initiative will involve government agencies, private security providers, event managers, sports organizations and industry associations to ensure events are safe, well-coordinated and professionally managed,” the joint statement added.

The proposed framework will outline guidelines on crowd management, medical preparedness, fire safety, counter-terrorism coordination and post-event reporting. Stakeholders acknowledged that security has often been treated as an afterthought in event planning and agreed that it must now take priority.

Under the new approach, large-scale gatherings will require formal risk assessments before approval, with organizers expected to demonstrate clear coordination with police, ambulance services and fire departments.

The State–KEPSA partnership will also focus on officer training, crowd control and ticketing systems, emergency medical response, infrastructure and technology investments, as well as tackling counterfeits, public health risks, cybersecurity and data protection.

Officials said the initiative marks a significant step toward professionalizing event security and protecting Kenya’s growing conference and tourism industry.

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