Kenyan and Tanzanian military commanders held security talks in Kajiado on strengthening cooperation along their shared border.
Commanders meeting in Kajiado agreed to strengthen surveillance and security coordination to tackle illegal immigration and cross-border organised crime.
Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen border surveillance, patrols and intelligence sharing.
The two countries want to tackle illegal immigration and transnational organised crime along their shared frontier.
The commitment followed the second Proximity Commanders Security Meeting in Kajiado County on September 24.
Senior officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) attended the talks.
They discussed emerging security threats affecting communities along the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Patrols and Surveillance to Increase
According to the KDF, commanders identified routine surveillance as a key security measure.
They also backed unannounced patrols and continued military presence along the frontier.
These measures aim to deter criminal activity and improve monitoring of border areas.
Illegal immigration also featured prominently during the discussions.
Consequently, commanders called for closer coordination among agencies managing cross-border movement.
The approach will bring military and multi-agency security teams closer together.
Intelligence Sharing Gets Priority
Meanwhile, both delegations stressed the need for faster intelligence and information sharing.
The KDF said timely exchanges could help agencies identify cross-border criminal networks.
They could also support quicker responses to emerging security threats.
Major General Luka Kutto, General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, co-chaired the meeting for Kenya.
Brigadier General Paul Masinde represented the TPDF as co-chair.
The two sides agreed to maintain closer operational coordination and communication.
Commanders Review Earlier Proposals
The meeting also reviewed recommendations from the first proximity commanders’ meeting.
Those proposals included improving border security infrastructure and increasing community engagement.
Commanders also discussed creating a bilateral framework for cooperation between security agencies.
The framework could help align operational procedures between Kenya and Tanzania.
Community engagement remained important because border security directly affects people living along the frontier.
Kenya, Tanzania Maintain Security Cooperation
The latest meeting forms part of ongoing bilateral security cooperation between Kenya and Tanzania.
Both countries face security challenges that can cross national boundaries.
The commanders reaffirmed their commitment to regular engagement and stronger operational coordination.
They also agreed to maintain open communication channels for joint responses as new threats emerge.
