Elections Preparedness & Contingency Planning - Kenya 2022
George Mandere Mochengo (Dip.CSMP? M.ISMI)
Non-Executive Board Member at Protective & Safety Association of Kenya (PROSAK)
Introduction
On August 9, Kenya will conduct its national elections as part of its democratic process, and every eligible citizen has the right to vote. Kenyans will proceed to the polls to elect their members of the county assembly, members of parliament (who include women representatives and senators), governors representing the 47 counties, and lastly, what is viewed as the ultimate prize, the President.
Times like these tax to the national security apparatus, which must deal with pre-voting electioneering, logistic, supply and safeguarding of poling materials and centres, ensure peace and order on voting day, and manage the overall security and safety of the exercise.
This mandate has been assigned to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. However, because of the sensitivity of the national elections, many law enforcement officers have been re-deployed from their normal posts to go and cover the national elections.
Certainly, this leaves a gap in the security and safety space that is complemented by private security and other interested stakeholders. Nevertheless, security is "all-inclusive" and everyone's responsibility, a practice that should always be encouraged and promoted.
It suffices to conclude that as corporations, organisations, and individual players, and as long as we have baseline security measures in place, which include but are not limited to:
we don't need sophisticated security measures like having a battalion of armed personnel or tough and mean-looking people to secure our spaces and environments.
Understanding that "Security is Everyone's Responsibility" and that "Security Starts with You" will go a long way in implementing simple and cost-effective ways to secure our environments.
Cost-Effective Ways of Securing Our Spaces and Environments
Understanding Crime Trends
Understanding the crime trend of your locality, especially in your neighbourhood and surrounding environment, enhances your situational awareness. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your safety or health.
According to Endsley (Mica R.), situational awareness is often a prerequisite for successful decision-making, particularly in complex dynamically changing situations (XXXX). She defined situational awareness as:
"...the perception of elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their situation in the future."
Simply put, situational awareness is the ability to be intuitively cognizant of your surroundings. The diagram below illustrates that fact.
Fig 1: Situational Awareness Flowchart: Courtesy of Biosurveillance.dvi
In recent times, we have witnessed a spike in criminal activities, especially in the informal settlements of Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware, and Baba Dogo in Nairobi; Majengo, Kibokoni, Likoni, and Kisauni in Mombasa; Nyamasaria, Nyamasaria, and the area around the Bus Park in Kisumu; and most recently. there has been an outcry of insecurity in Bondeni and Mawanga areas in Nakuru.
For our commercial corporate clients, they have to be cognizant that the central business districts (CBD's) of Nairobi and Mombasa are slowly turning into crime-prone spots. The area between Odeon Cinema all the way to the junction of Ronald Ngala and the Archives area, all along Tom Mboya Street, is notorious for pick-pocketing and petty crime.
This is especially noticeable during quiet hours (early in the morning between 0500-0630 Hrs and late in the evening beginning at 2200 Hrs), and periods of high pedestrian and vehicular traffic between 0800-1000Hrs and 1700-1900 Hrs.
Downtown Nairobi-River Road, Kirinyaga Road, the vicinity of Globe Cinema, and all the sections from the Country Bus Station towards the City Stadium, along Landhies Road, are famed for their high pedestrian traffic and formal and informal business transactions, which is an opportune recipe for petty pick-pockets, con-artists, and criminals. Vigilance and self-situational awareness while exercising increased caution are always recommended when visiting these areas since the dynamics can change very quickly.
Photo 1: A gang attacking a victim in the street of a major urban centre - The Star
At weekends, when there is little vehicular and pedestrian traffic along Kenyatta Avenue, Koinange Street, the Aga Khan Walk, and isolated sections of the CBD, have to be patronized with caution to avoid surprise attacks from determined criminals and or street urchins.
However, nationally, car-jacking still remains the number one crime, and this can happen anywhere and at any time. This is accompanied by armed robbery in the event the victim(s) resist and this might easily result in fatalities.
House break-ins and burglary, assault, muggings, snatching and grabbing by criminals on motorcycles "Boda Bodas" are some of the other criminal activities you may be faced with.
Undoubtedly, these crime trends are a result of the high cost of living and the disparity in disposable income between different strata of the social classes. There has been a steady increase in crime statistics, and the electioneering period in the last three months has intensified this.
Although, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) have tried to minimize the incidences of crime in the country and in the capital, in particular, the (wo)men in boots can not cover every nook and cranny of the city.
As a result, keeping track of your neighbourhood's crime trends and projections via incident registers and intelligence is the first simple and cost-effective step in keeping yourself and your surroundings safe and secure or reducing the incidences of crime.
Developing Security Alerts and Operational Levels (SAOL's)
At the very least, every organisation or individual property owner has a baseline level of security measures, irrespective of the risk. This can be one-dimensional, which relies on a single deterrent, the "Mbwa Kali" signage at the main gate, deployment of security officers or an insurance cover. It can also be piece-meal where ingredients are added to the loss prevention piece by piece as the need arises, without a comprehensive plan or reactive which responds only to specific loss events. (ISMI).
However, a recommended baseline solution is packaged security, which includes but is not limited to security officers, access control systems, CCTV camera surveillance, electric fence, alarm system, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and a quick response team (QRT). Accordingly, this installs specific standard security systems without relation to specific threats.
As a result, a standard security system sets standard alert and operational levels (SAOL's), which usually relate directly to the threat level. Typically, the threat levels are identified as Low, Medium, Substantial, High, and Severe. However, different law enforcement agencies and organizations define threat levels differently. The table below illustrates this fact.
Fig 2: Security Alert & Operation Levels for Different Organizations
Organizations or individuals may set a specific enterprise or individual SAOL's but we recommend that they be set in alignment with the national alert levels of the host country.
Fear, uncertainty and doubt raise the SAOL to a higher level and naturally, the higher the SAOL, the higher demand is placed on security. However, it is important to avoid the prolonged use of the highest level to avoid staff being used to it hence becoming complacent as a result and of course factoring in the cost-benefit of prolonging it.
Currently, we are operating at a "Medium" level of security alert and operational level characterised with a medium activity of civil unrest against, say, the voting process if there are delays, the likelihood of allegation of foul play or rumours and innuendo. In the event this is actualized and because of the sensitivity of the national elections, we will raise the level to substantial from tomorrow when voting commences in anticipation of the results.
In the event there is a fallout after the results have been announced and a losing contender alleges foul play and calls for mass action and demonstrations and there is the likelihood of continuing civilian unrest and spontaneous breakdown of public order, disruption of operations, and the law enforcement officers are not in total control of the situation, then the SAOL will be raised to "High."
In a situation where there is a total breakdown of public order and there is minimal or no rule of law, things might turn catastrophic hence the SAOL will further be raised to "Severe."
At whatever level, the objective is for the security focal point (SFP) to emphasise communication through awareness, alerts, and security advisories, which are verifiable and from reputable sources.?
Neighbourhood and Forecourt Watch Groups
Earlier, we noted that law enforcement officers cannot be everywhere at the same time and that security is everyone's responsibility. As a result, the gap that is left is duly filled by private security, property managers, residents, tenants, and other interested stakeholders who complement the efforts of law enforcement officers.
Neighbourhood and Forecourt Watch Groups are simple and cost-effective ways to complement these efforts. In the former, residents who reside in a particular area (and may include business or commercial premises owners) come together, plan, and watch each other's property in an effort to minimize the opportunity for crime, vandalism, and misdemeanour. Forecourt Groups serve the same purpose, but these are basically composed of businesses that are at the front of the building, and in most cases, facing a road.
Photo 2: Residential Security
Ideally, it is easier for businesses in the same locality to watch over each other's security and safety in a bid to reduce potential losses. They can share card fraud cases and suspects, which can be made easy by having a centralized data collection point, exchanging information on crime trends affecting their business and ensuring that their forecourts are adequately lit. Coming together also makes it easier for them to lobby the national and or county government for their security and safety needs.
Photo 3: Forecourt Security
In essence, neighbourhood and forecourt Watch groups are the initiatives of the residents themselves. They have a larger stake in the running and operation of the group. However, this has to be in collaboration with law enforcement officers and local leaders, especially on the surveillance of their local neighbourhoods.
This should not be confused with community policing, which is an initiative of the police in liaison with the community. Whereas there is still a phobia of police and the police officers from some members of the public, people will find that in neighbourhood watch that applies less. However, citizens should be encouraged to cultivate a positive relationship with the police.
It is prudent that the residents' management appoints a security focal point (SFP) to act as a liaison between the residents, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders. It is not necessary that the security focal point must have law enforcement, military, or corporate security background. An existing staff member or resident can be appointed and can perform the role alongside his/her regular duties.
The security focal point (SFP) should report directly to the local leadership and he/she shall be responsible for implementing the security strategy commensurate with the security risk analysis and which is necessary to maintain compliance (ISMI). He/she shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the security, which includes but is not limited to:
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
The physical environment can be manipulated to produce behaviour effects that will reduce the opportunity, incidence or fear of crime. This is a positive interaction of the built environment to create:
Natural Surveillance
Residential areas should have bushes and shrubs trimmed, and tall trees planted in strategic locations to improve visibility and provide a clear line of sight. In commercial buildings, minimize visual obstacles and concealment areas by keeping corridors, attics, and balconies clear of stacked boxes, bags, luggage, poster stands, or banners.
Photo 4: A Clear Line of Sight that increases visibility
Good lighting around the premises, corridors, and near the access points, especially at night is recommended. Windows facing the street or parking should be installed with film to reduce breaking in case of a blast and CCTV camera surveillance should be checked for functionality.
Natural Access Control
Manage how people and vehicles access the premises. Minimize access points, ideally to two (the main access point and an emergency exit point). Access routes leading to loading bays, foyers, and parking lots should be visible and located in well-lit areas.
As far as possible, the access routes should be instinctive and natural complemented with signage and barriers that direct access to specific, controllable access points. Thorny or stingy plants or shrub-like the stingy nettle can be used to make windows less natural access points.
Photo 5: Stinging nettle acts as a deterrence for natural access to unauthorised spaces
Finally, for natural surveillance to be effective, there should be a clear distinction between public and private spaces. This will assist in creating a three (3) metre clearance space both in the interior and exterior space. Clear ownership and guardianship of the exterior space will deter informal settlements. or structures like kiosks, street families' homes, and spots for idling that can be used as props to access the premises, concealment/hideouts for criminals or provide surveillance opportunities for adversaries.
Photo 6: Ownership of private space keeps away trouble.
Natural Territorial Reinforcement
Residents and tenants should create a sense of ownership of the spaces and environments in which they operate. By knowing the organizations, brands, and people operating within their spaces, it becomes easy to identify and challenge strangers.
A sense of owned space creates an environment where "strangers" and "intruders" stand out and are more easily identified.
Maintenance and Management
Keep your spaces and environments clean and well maintained to indicate dedicated guardianship or ownership. Clean environments portray a sense of being watched and. in a way, deter trespass, vandalism, and vagrants.
Photo 7: Keeping Our Spaces Clean - Photo Courtesy Businessweek.co.ke
Compartmentalization
By compartmentalizing the residential and commercial spaces, a layered access control capability is built, slowing any adversarial advancement. This, coupled with the "Need to Go Rule," slows the adversary, making it easy for the quick response team (QRT) to respond in time.
It is also prudent that commercial buildings and spaces be compartmentalized according to the nature of business and or operating times. For example, an educational centre should be located in a different wing with a restaurant and a bar.
Situational Crime Prevention
Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) exploits the Rational Crime Theory (RCT), which states that:
"With many potential points of dishonesty, an individual weighs up, perhaps subconciously, the potential reward of the act balanced against the risks."
Simply, most crimes are committed by reasoning (but not necessarily correct reasoning) by offenders who think they won't be caught and that the benefit of their action outweighs the risks (ISMI).
Aptly, by removing the reward and increasing the risks for the offender, the opportunity for crime is reduced. This shifts the risk/reward balance in favour of the defender-the enterprise. The table below illustrates this fact.
Fig 3: Situational Crime Prevention
The security service provider should increase perceived risks by:
Political Violence is defined as hostile or aggressive behaviour motivated by a desire to change or maintain the status quo in government: - This can be in the form of hate speech (both physically or through social media), incitement, misinformation and disinformation, mass protests, riots and rebellion, ethnic profiling, cleansing, genocide and state repression, and inter-community/ethnic clashes.
In the event of political violence against personnel and property, which may be in the form of crowd violence, attempted storming, and or actual storming of premises, the following measures should be taken:
Personnel Contingency Planning
Duty of Care: Every organization has a responsibility to ensure that its staff, partners, visitors, and other stakeholders operate in an environment that is safe and secure. Managers or immediate supervisors must notify the contingency coordinator immediately of any business disruption or crisis.
In such a scenario, communication is important, and the address and contact information for staff should be held centrally by the contingency planner. Ideally, there should be contact numbers for two staff members who can be contacted in case of an emergency. Office staff should be readily available to all staff.
Managers or immediate supervisors should ensure that staff actions and priorities are consistent with the organization's business recovery strategy. Likewise, clients should be provided with core services at an appropriate level of operational risk, which should be analysed to as low as reasonably practicable.
Organizations and individuals should ensure that all sensitive data is properly backed up. In evnt of unforeseen emergencies, the fire alarm should be used and information should be cascaded to staff by security and property management.
Advise staff to keep a reserve of necessities, which should include and not to be limited to:
Travelling staff should know the extent of the emergency, have informed their immediate supervisor and have their contact.
General advisory:
Finally, the contingency coordinator should have contact with all national and county law enforcement agencies.