The Internal Security and Metropolitan ministries will coordinate the installation process once the funds are released by the Treasury/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 7 – The government has been urged to zero-rate CCTV equipment as it prepares to launch an ambitious project of installing them in Nairobi.
“They should be zero-rated. That way, they will be affordable because these are very expensive,” the chairman of the Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA) Timothy Muriuki said.
Muriuki who spoke at a forum in Nairobi where private companies offering CCTV services converged to showcase their products, said there is also need for the government to increase its budget allocation for the CCTV’s this financial year.
“The money allocated is very little, that budget should be increased to enable the relevant ministry get sufficient money to run the project,” he said.
The Internal Security and Metropolitan ministries will coordinate the installation process once the funds are released by the Treasury.
Parliament’s budget committee is proposing Sh1.2 billion to be allocated to the Internal Security Ministry for CCTV installation exercise in this financial year.
“To counter security threats, Sh1.275 billion to the ministry of State for Public Administration and National security as counterpart funding for the installation of CCTV surveillance equipment,” the report reads.
The government has announced that it plans to embark on an ambitious plan of installing CCTV’s on the city streets and strategic buildings as part of measures to counter insecurity, particularly the emerging terror threat.
The heightened security measures follow threats the country is facing from the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab members who have threatened to bring down skyscrapers in the capital, Nairobi.
The threats are contained in a report by a private spying agency IntelCentre that is based in Virginia, USA.
Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere admits the country is faced with terror threats and challenges but he has assured that measures are in place to counter any such threats.
Two weeks ago, one person was killed and 37 others wounded when a powerful explosion triggered by a conventional bomb went off at Assanand’s House on Moi Avenue.
Internal Security Minister George Saitoti blamed the attack on Al Shabaab members. No suspect has been arrested to date.
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