Australia has launched a major review of its intelligence and law enforcement agencies after a deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach. The move is a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to safeguard citizens, a challenge deeply familiar to Kenyans.

This probe into potential security failures resonates powerfully in Nairobi, which has weathered its own tragic attacks and continues to adapt its counter-terrorism strategies. The core question for both nations is the same: how can intelligence be gathered, shared, and acted upon effectively enough to prevent such loss of life?

On December 14, gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned as an "act of evil antisemitism". In response, Albanese has ordered a four-month review led by Dennis Richardson, a former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio).

A Sobering Mirror for Nairobi

The Australian review will scrutinise the systems and powers of its security agencies, a process that holds valuable insights for Kenya. Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS) is the principal civilian agency tasked with detecting and countering threats, operating within a multi-agency framework to disrupt terror plots. Yet, challenges in coordination and resources persist.

The Australian inquiry is set to examine several key areas:

• Whether federal agencies have the right powers to respond to evolving threats.
• The effectiveness of information-sharing arrangements between different security bodies.
• The processes and structures in place to keep the community safe.

One of the alleged Bondi attackers had previously been investigated by Asio, but was not deemed an ongoing threat, highlighting the immense difficulty in monitoring potential extremists. This scenario underscores the critical need for robust, ongoing assessment protocols, a challenge Kenyan security services also face.

As Australia dissects what went wrong, the findings will be watched closely by security agencies worldwide. For Kenya, the lessons learned from the other side of the Indian Ocean could prove vital in strengthening its own defences against the shared, global threat of terrorism.