The Kenyan and the Dutch governments today signed a declaration of intent to counter violent extremism between the two countries.
The pact signed by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed and Dutch Foreign minister Bert Koenders will majorly concentrate on intelligence sharing, capacity building and deradicalisation process.
“We have had longstanding and deep relations with the Kingdom of Netherlands. On counter-terrorism and support on deradicalisation we have had strong relationship. Today we have witnessed the signing of a declaration of intent between the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Netherlands and the National Counter Terrorism of Kenya on cooperation in countering terrorism.” Amina said.
Although the agreement does not capture military cooperation, the declaration will see sharing of intelligence, profiling and reintegration immigrants.
“The whole challenge of counter-terrorism and we both agree it requires security approach but also an approach of deradicalisation, giving space to people, understanding what is happening and I am very happy we signed the declaration of intent this morning.” Bert said.
The two ministers also discussed on improving bilateral, political and trade engagements between the two countries.
“It’s a declaration of intent and the intention is to ensure that we forge our relations, we collaborate of the whole allay of this global threat , sharing of intelligence, building of capacity all those a parts of what will follow this declaration of intent.”
Amina said working together, Kenya and Netherlands will overcome the threats of violent extremism.
Bert said just like Kenya, Nertherlands is also preparing for electioneering period and called for free, fair and peaceful elections.
The pact will be implement by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) headed by Ambassador Martin Kimani.
This comes barely a month after the Kenyan and British governments pledged military cooperation and partnership in training officers from the respective countries.
British Defence Minister Mike Penning said the two countries will cooperate in the fight against terrorism and other transnational crimes.
Mike handed over the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) machine to which will serve the entire East Africa region in the fight against terrorism.
IEDs are the most preferred weaponry used by insurgents particularly the Al Shabaab militants in Somalia where the Kenya Defence Forces troops are operating under Amisom forces.
