On January 20th 1997, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa the then president of United republic of Tanzania signed an Act to establish Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services, famoulsy known as TISS or Usalama wa Taifa.
Naona mwaka mmoja baadaye Kenya nao walifanya restructuring kwao vile vile, jee hii ilikuwa ni kwa ajili ya EAF?
National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS)
In 1998, a new act of Parliament in Kenya established the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) to replace the former Directorate of Security Intelligence which was commonly known as the "Special Branch" and which was part of the Kenya Police Department.
The NSIS brief, like all other intelligence organisations, is to gather and exploit secret information. It identifies conditions that threaten Kenya's political, economic and social stability. It subsequently develops opportunities and strategies to neutralise such threats.
In May 1999, President Daniel arap Moi appointed retired Brig. Wilson Bonett to head NSIS whose intelligence gathering work includes: internal, external and strategic intelligence. NSIS is divided into seven sections:
1. Administration
2. Information technology
3. Internal intelligence
4. External intelligence
5. Economic affairs
6. Operations
7. National Intelligence Academy
It changed name and relocated from its notorious Nyati House offices to new headquarters on the outskirts of the city, near the Windsor Golf and Country Hotel. As the Director general of NSIS, Retired Brig. Boinet is the principle advisor of the President on matters relating to national security. In April 1999, the Moi government appointed Mrs Pamela Mboya, the former Permanent representative to the Habitat, to head a Committee that was charged with formulating a scheme of service for NSIS officers.
Security of tenure given the director of NSIS is designed to protect him from such abuse by members of the governing elite. He has the opportunity to say 'no' to any unlawful or sectarian instructions from his bosses without fear of losing his job.
The position of intelligence boss is, therefore, crucial in maintaining democratic balance and, in Kenya's case, from taking it back to the torture chambers.