Israeli firms sent representatives to Kenya this week seeking clients in the private and public sectors. Photo: Screenshot.

Ten Israeli security professionals visited Kenya this week to promote consultancy services for both public and private firms in the face of ongoing terrorist threats, Kenya’s Capital TV reported on Wednesday.

Israeli companies are hoping to share with Kenyan firms their expertise in security technology, intelligence, and protection of prominent figures and other sensitive targets, said Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Yahel Vilan.

Among the local firms that may benefit from Israeli know-how are companies drilling for oil or exploring other natural resources in Kenya.

At a seminar on Wednesday, convened in Nairobi by the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli firms held talks with local private security agencies about tackling the rising threat of terrorism, KTN Kenya reported.

Addressing the seminar, Vilan said collaboration between Israel and Kenya can specifically help address the threat of Somalia-based Islamist terror group Al-Shabaab, an offshoot of al-Qaeda which has wrought havoc in nearby Kenya.

“Partnership will go a long way in addressing the Al-Shabaab threat,” he said

“Kenya is very important to us. It is a very friendly country with Israel,” said Vilan. “We are sharing the same threats of terrorism and therefore of course it is a natural partner for us to cooperate on the field of national security.”

Last month, Al-Shabaab militants killed 148 people, among them 142 students, at a university in the northern Kenyan town of Garissa. An Al-Shabaab spokesperson said at the time that Christian Kenyans “have to leave the whole Muslim land. We won’t give up an inch of the Muslim land. And the killing will continue until they go back to Christian land.”

Eliezer Sherman contributed to this report.