Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo (centre) with other security officers during the event on July 29,2026/MINAThe government has intensified its grassroots security campaign, directing National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to strengthen intelligence gathering, dismantle drug trafficking networks and improve access to key government services across the country.
Speaking during a meeting with National Government Administrative Officers in Mombasa, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said administrators must work closely with security agencies and local communities to combat organised crime, violent extremism and the growing menace of drug and substance abuse.
The directive targets County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Village Elders, who have been tasked with enhancing community policing and improving intelligence collection at the grassroots.
"Mombasa is one of Kenya's most important economic hubs. Whatever happens here affects not only the Coast region but the entire country. We must therefore safeguard peace and security to create an environment where businesses thrive, investments grow, tourists visit and our people access economic opportunities," Omollo said.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo during an event on July 29,2026/MINAHe said the coastal city's strategic position as home to the Port of Mombasa makes its security vital to Kenya's economy, international trade, tourism and investment.
The PS identified drug trafficking and substance abuse as among the greatest threats facing young people, warning that criminal networks continue to exploit vulnerable youth for financial gain while destroying families and communities.
He urged administrators to identify drug hotspots, strengthen surveillance and work closely with the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, schools, religious leaders and parents to eliminate drug syndicates and support rehabilitation programmes.
"Fighting drugs is a shared responsibility. Village Elders, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs must remain vigilant and work closely with communities to protect our young people from addiction and crime," he said.
Omollo said the government would continue strengthening grassroots administration through the full operationalisation of gazetted administrative units, noting that effective security and service delivery begin at the village level.
He described Village Elders as an integral part of the country's security architecture through the Nyumba Kumi initiative, community policing, conflict resolution and mobilisation of wananchi to participate in government programmes.
Beyond security, the PS said NGAOs play a critical role in coordinating government programmes, resolving disputes, responding to emergencies and ensuring communities benefit from the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He noted that peace and security remain the foundation upon which the government's economic agenda is built, saying investments in agriculture, affordable housing, healthcare, MSMEs, the digital economy and the Blue Economy can only thrive in a stable environment.
On education, Omollo reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving learning, noting that Sh787.4 billion, the largest allocation in the current national budget, has been set aside for the education sector.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo address NGAOs during the event on July 29,2026/MINAHe called on administrators to continue working with schools, parents and the Ministry of Education to improve enrolment, learner retention and skills development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The PS also lauded Mombasa County for attaining an 83 per cent registration rate under the Social Health Authority (SHA), describing it as one of the country's best-performing counties.
He attributed the achievement to collaboration between national administrators, the county government and the Ministry of Health in expanding access to affordable healthcare.
Omollo further directed administrators to intensify the registration and collection of National Identity Cards, saying no eligible Kenyan should be denied access to the vital document.
"I urge all our County Commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Village Elders to ensure that no eligible Kenyan is left behind in acquiring a National Identity Card. The document enables wananchi to access education, employment, financial services and government programmes," he said.
He noted that the government had recently engaged leaders from across the Coast region to address challenges affecting ID issuance, adding that the success of the exercise depends largely on the commitment of administrators at the grassroots.
Omollo said by commending NGAOs for their professionalism and dedication, assuring them of continued government support through improved facilitation, capacity building and operational resources to enhance security and public service delivery.
