Nairobi — Twenty police officers from the National Police Service have completed a specialized training program aimed at enhancing their skills in surveillance operations for combating terrorism.

The intensive 10-day workshop, held in Nairobi, focused on equipping operational-level detectives with the necessary expertise to conduct surveillance operations effectively within a team environment while providing support for antiterrorism investigations.

During the training, officials said participants engaged in comprehensive lecture-based sessions that covered essential aspects of surveillance operations, including methodology and team coordination.

Practical exercises formed a crucial part of the training, with security agents undertaking frequent simulations of various surveillance methods.

These exercises encompassed static, mobile, foot, and vehicular surveillance techniques, replicating real-life scenarios that closely mirror counterterrorism operations.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, in a statement released on Friday, highlighted the significance of this training program against the backdrop of an escalating terrorism threat posed by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group based in Somalia.

Speaking Friday at the closing ceremony, Ireri Kamwende, Deputy Director of the DCI, emphasized the importance of the officers' dedication and the practical application of the skills they had acquired.

He called upon them to utilize their newfound expertise to safeguard the lives and property of Kenyans.

The training was supported by the United States Department of State's Anti-terrorism Assistance (ATA) Program and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

The US is among Kenya's key international partners in the fight against terrorism.