Turkey to train Kenya police in fighting crime and combating terrorism

Kenya is set to receive some lessons in fighting crime, including combating terrorism from one of the most powerful police forces in the world.

Turkey has expressed willingness to train the Kenyan police especially on specialized Turkish courses on criminal investigation, crisis management, anti-terrorism, organized crime, car theft, etc. the local head of Turkey’s state-run aid agency told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

“With TIKA collaboration, the Turkish General Director of Security Services has rolled out international police training programs across the world, and we also want to extend the coverage to Kenya’s National Police.” said Emre Yuksek, the coordinator in Kenya of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

A high-level delegation from Turkey led by Alper Ozdemir, first-class police chief at Police Vocational School, and Erkin Tanrikulu, a second-class security director and vice-president security general met with top officials from the Kenya National Police Service to discuss the particulars of the training.

In the presence of Turkey’s ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Mr. Ahmet Cemil Miroglu both sides agreed to work together.

Kenya’s police inspector general, Joseph Boinett expressed his thanks to the people and government of Turkey for coming in to assist the East African nation at an opportune time when they are combating acts of crime such as those by the Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab militant group.

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Some of the courses the Kenyan police will be trained about includes; basic intelligence, pedestrian and mobile tracking, counter-terrorism, organized crime, shooting techniques and tactics, car theft, guarding VIPs, police training, police defense tactics, intelligence in combating global terrorism, crisis/hostage negotiation, protecting important premises against terrorism, and cyber crimes, according to a statement from TIKA.

The Turkish delegation will be in Kenya for four days visiting various police divisions to see where improvements are needed.