Kwale, Kenya – In a groundbreaking move to bolster national security and facilitate trade, the Government of Kenya has launched a Joint Operations Centre at the Lunga Lunga One-Stop Border Post in Kwale County bordering Kenya-Tanzania.

The Joint Operation Centre (JOC) unit acts as a central point for gathering, researching, compiling, and sharing information, aimed at improving operations, security, and intelligence exchange at ports of entry and exit.

IOM supports the Government of Kenya to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular cross-border mobility and trade and to effectively address transnational organized crime, including trafficking in persons as well as smuggling of migrants and goods within Kenya and the Horn of Africa through Coordinated Border Management.

“The establishment of the Joint Operation Centre will significantly enhance the effectiveness of multi-agency efforts in securing our borders and improving the overall operations of the BCOCC,”Chege Macharia, Deputy Commissioner, Border Control & Enforcement, Kenya Revenue Authority.

The Lunga Lunga OSBP serves over 2,500 people each day, including cross-border traders, travelers, and migrants. The established JOC at Lunga Lunga will further enhance efficient movement of persons and goods by countering threats at the border and creating synergy among border control and security agencies at the OSBP.

“Through the JOC, the Government of Kenya is moving towards enhanced coordination and information sharing to counter threats and facilitating seamless movement of people and goods while ensuring border security and addressing key challenges relating to border management,” said Dimanche Sharon, IOM Kenya Chief of Mission.

This initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee 5-year Strategic Plan and IOM’s strategic vision of facilitating pathways for regular migration of prioritizing whole-of-government, whole-of-society approaches to safely connect people, goods, services, knowledge, and innovation.

IOM will continue working with the Ministry of Interior through, State Department for Internal Security and National Administration that brings together all agencies with a border mandate in its efforts in spearheading inter-agency cooperation on border management, enhancing skills of frontline border officials, essential infrastructure, and advanced IT solutions, as well as offer expert technical guidance.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Meru at IOM Kenya, Email: cmeru@iom.int