When people think about national security, they often picture it as the job of government agencies alone — in the U.S., that might mean the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA, the FBI, or the military. In Kenya, it might be the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). But the truth I have seen — whether in New York or Nairobi — is that no single agency can protect a nation on its own.
Real security is built through partnerships — a web of cooperation that links national government agencies, local governments, NGOs, businesses, and ordinary citizens. In the U.S., these partnerships operate under frameworks like the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). In Kenya, we see similar collaboration during major crises, where the Red Cross works alongside county governments, the private sector, and local community leaders. Without these connections, responses become slow, duplicated, or dangerously incomplete.
After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. created DHS to safeguard the country from a wide range of threats — terrorism, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and more. It works through several components:
Within DHS, FEMA’s role is guided by the NRF — the national playbook for responding to all types of hazards. The NRF is built on a “whole community” approach, meaning every part of society has a role to play.
The framework organizes resources into Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), such as transportation, energy, communications, and public health. When FEMA activates, it doesn’t take over — it embeds its liaisons in state and county emergency operations centers, working side by side with local leaders.
I’ve seen similar principles applied in Kenya during major floods or terrorist incidents — national agencies working within county emergency setups, combining resources under one command structure to avoid chaos.
Non-governmental organizations often move faster than government agencies in a crisis. Groups like the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, and World Central Kitchen in the U.S., or the Kenya Red Cross here at home, bring specialized skills, volunteers, and trusted community networks.
Partnerships are just as important for prevention as for response. In the U.S., the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative allows local police, businesses, and citizens to submit tips that get vetted and shared across the law enforcement network. In cyber defense, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act created channels for private companies to share threat intelligence with CISA.
We need this mindset in Kenya too — especially in the volatile Northern part, where suspicious activity reported by locals can prevent cross-border terrorist movements before they happen.
Partnerships sound ideal, but they aren’t always easy. Three challenges come up often, One, information sharing. How do you protect sensitive security data while giving partners enough detail to act? Two, resource gaps. Smaller counties or NGOs may not have the staff or technology to stay plugged into national systems. Three, jurisdictional confusion. Without clear roles, agencies can trip over each other in a fast-moving crisis. The solution lies in training together before emergencies, using shared communication platforms, and building trust so that when something happens, partners already know each other’s strengths.
Working with security agencies is not a matter of the big players giving orders and everyone else following. It’s an exchange. For example, in United States, DHS and FEMA bring national resources, coordination, and expertise. NGOs bring agility, deep community ties, and specialized skills. The private sector brings infrastructure and logistics. Citizens bring vigilance, local knowledge, and the ability to act instantly.
Whether in the U.S., Kenya, or anywhere else, the strongest security systems are those where all these parts fit together. In a world of complex, interconnected threats, no single actor can stand alone. But together — through structured, trusted partnerships — we can prevent more, respond faster, and recover stronger.
Real security is built through partnerships — a web of cooperation that links national government agencies, local governments, NGOs, businesses, and ordinary citizens. In the U.S., these partnerships operate under frameworks like the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). In Kenya, we see similar collaboration during major crises, where the Red Cross works alongside county governments, the private sector, and local community leaders. Without these connections, responses become slow, duplicated, or dangerously incomplete.
After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. created DHS to safeguard the country from a wide range of threats — terrorism, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and more. It works through several components:
- FEMA – Disaster Response and Recovery.
- TSA – Transportation Safety and Airport Security.
- CISA – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
- CBP – Border Security and Customs Enforcement.
Within DHS, FEMA’s role is guided by the NRF — the national playbook for responding to all types of hazards. The NRF is built on a “whole community” approach, meaning every part of society has a role to play.
The framework organizes resources into Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), such as transportation, energy, communications, and public health. When FEMA activates, it doesn’t take over — it embeds its liaisons in state and county emergency operations centers, working side by side with local leaders.
I’ve seen similar principles applied in Kenya during major floods or terrorist incidents — national agencies working within county emergency setups, combining resources under one command structure to avoid chaos.
Non-governmental organizations often move faster than government agencies in a crisis. Groups like the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, and World Central Kitchen in the U.S., or the Kenya Red Cross here at home, bring specialized skills, volunteers, and trusted community networks.
Partnerships are just as important for prevention as for response. In the U.S., the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative allows local police, businesses, and citizens to submit tips that get vetted and shared across the law enforcement network. In cyber defense, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act created channels for private companies to share threat intelligence with CISA.
We need this mindset in Kenya too — especially in the volatile Northern part, where suspicious activity reported by locals can prevent cross-border terrorist movements before they happen.
Partnerships sound ideal, but they aren’t always easy. Three challenges come up often, One, information sharing. How do you protect sensitive security data while giving partners enough detail to act? Two, resource gaps. Smaller counties or NGOs may not have the staff or technology to stay plugged into national systems. Three, jurisdictional confusion. Without clear roles, agencies can trip over each other in a fast-moving crisis. The solution lies in training together before emergencies, using shared communication platforms, and building trust so that when something happens, partners already know each other’s strengths.
Working with security agencies is not a matter of the big players giving orders and everyone else following. It’s an exchange. For example, in United States, DHS and FEMA bring national resources, coordination, and expertise. NGOs bring agility, deep community ties, and specialized skills. The private sector brings infrastructure and logistics. Citizens bring vigilance, local knowledge, and the ability to act instantly.
Whether in the U.S., Kenya, or anywhere else, the strongest security systems are those where all these parts fit together. In a world of complex, interconnected threats, no single actor can stand alone. But together — through structured, trusted partnerships — we can prevent more, respond faster, and recover stronger.
