Government Unveils Six Security Measures Ahead of Festive Season Travel Surge

The government has rolled out six key security measures aimed at safeguarding lives and property as the country heads into the festive season, a period traditionally marked by increased travel, social activities and tourism.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration said the overall security situation across the country remains calm and stable, but cautioned that past trends show the season often comes with isolated spikes in crime, traffic violations and other opportunistic offences.

“As the country enters the festive season, we recognise this period as one marked by increased travel, heightened activity in various social places, and a surge in both domestic and international tourism,” the ministry said. “While the overall security situation across the country remains calm and stable, this period may see isolated increases in security incidents, traffic violations and other opportunistic criminal activities.”

To address these risks, the government has activated the National Multi-Agency Command Centre (NMACC) to coordinate surveillance, intelligence sharing and rapid response before, during and after the festive season. The centre brings together officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry Service, National Youth Service and the National Government Administration. Similar coordination centres have also been set up at regional and county levels to strengthen operational command and control.

Security deployment has been intensified nationwide, with officers drawn from multiple agencies stationed at airports, border crossings and other entry and exit points, as well as high-traffic locations such as hotels, shopping malls, beaches, tourist sites, central business districts, places of worship and entertainment venues.

“All officers previously on leave have resumed duty,” the ministry noted, adding that the Ministry of Defence is providing logistical and air support where required, including securing the country from external threats .

On the roads, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the Traffic Police Department, has launched a nationwide traffic operation to ease congestion and improve road safety. According to the ministry, the operation includes multi-agency coordination, deployment of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers to deter corruption, use of mobile courts where necessary, and both physical and electronic enforcement measures, particularly in high-risk corridors.

Regional and county security committees have also reinforced counter-terrorism preparedness by intensifying surveillance and implementing Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) county action plans, with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure and large public gatherings. At the same time, a nationwide crackdown led by NACADA has been launched to target the production, sale and abuse of illicit brews and drugs, which authorities say remain a major threat to public safety.

The government has further escalated operations against organised criminal gangs in Nairobi, the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Central and Eastern regions, while stepping up enforcement against cultural and social crimes including female genital mutilation, defilement, early pregnancies, forced marriages, domestic violence and religious extremism.

Calling for public cooperation, the ministry emphasised that security is a shared responsibility. “We urge all wananchi to remain vigilant and to cooperate fully with law enforcement officers throughout the festive season,” the statement said. Motorists were advised to plan journeys in advance and use alternative routes to avoid congestion, including the Nairobi–Suswa–Narok route for travellers heading to Western and Nyanza regions, and the Nairobi–Nyeri–Nyahururu–Nakuru route for those passing through Central Kenya.

Members of the public were also encouraged to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through toll-free numbers 999, 911 or 112, as the government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring “a peaceful, secure and orderly festive season for all.”

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