NAIROBI, Kenya, May 24 – The two sides of Kenya’s on and off wave of insecurity coin presents a challenge to the country and ironically, opportunities.
The challenges are not unheard of. From loss of life in the hands of terrorists, to loss of commercial opportunities and closure of businesses especially in the tourism and hospitality sector among other problems, insecurity has without a doubt served Kenya a big blow.
However, in a classic case of making lemonade after being served with lemons, Global Forensics Services Legal Director Keniz Agira is urging Kenya to look at the flip side of insecurity.
“Kenya needs to open its eyes to the opportunities that insecurity has created for her no matter how unfortunate the turnout has been,” Agira said while addressing a conference on civil security technologies and services.
One of the first business opportunities and areas that people can partner in, in the field is digital forensic research.
Also known as digital forensic science, digital forensic is a branch of forensic science encompassing the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices, often in relation to computer crime.
“Anyone practicing digital forensic science or studying it therefore has an opportunity of playing a role in dealing with the increased cases of insecurity cases in Kenya and across the world.”
Then there is information warfare. Primarily used in the US, information warfare is essentially the use of information, and attacks on information, as a tool of warfare. It comprises giving the enemy propaganda to convince them to give up and denying them information that might lead to their resistance. Hence, any business willing to import this model is bound to contribute in securing Kenya and establish a viable venture while at it.
Other opportunities include Critical Infrastructure Protection which relates to the preparedness and response to serious incidents that involve the critical infrastructure of a region or nation.
“There’s also law enforcement whereby new fields could crop up and create new opportunities for law practitioners,” he said.
There are already companies that have benefitted from the emergence of insecurity in the country.
For instance, CCTVs have been installed in a majority of business centres across the country. New security companies have also come up, which have in turn created jobs for thousands. Even security consultancy is now a thing, proving that in deed there are business opportunities on the other side of insecurity in Kenya.