To be precise, the government plans to install CCTV surveillance worth KES 437 million cameras across various parts of the Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to combat crime and boost security. The money comes from an 8.5 billion grant from the Chinese government.

[caption id="attachment_26826" align="alignright" width="291"] CCTV Cameras[/caption]

“We are putting terrorists and criminals on notice,” said Metropolitan Minister, Jamlek Kamau. “Their days are actually numbered.” Speaking during the initial launch of the project, he noted that those caught committing crimes will have nowhere to hide.

The initiative was official unveiled at a ceremony at the Kenya International Conference Center (KICC) on Monday 3^rd December, 2012.

According to Minister for Internal Security Katoo Ole Metito, the surveillance system is part of a larger project that will cost about KES 1.2 billion. The Ministry plans to purchase 850 motorcycles and 255 police vehicles in a bid to boost security within the city. KES 900 million will be used to buy the vehicles while the rest will be geared towards recurrent expenditure.

The surveillance cameras will coordinate traffic lights to ease congestion. The Ministry believes that the move will eventually phase out the need for traffic police officers.

The Ministry will oversee the installation of surveillance units along Kirinyaga Road, Machakos Country Bus Station, Muthurwa Market, Gikomba, Kenyatta National Hospital and the Community area. Nairobi is only the first phase of the project. The Ministry plans to install cameras in major cities across the country, including Mombasa and Kisumu during the second and third phase of the project.

Ole Metito noted that integrated CCTV surveillance systems were already being installed in the city.