The National Police Service is reorganising its core formations and creating specialised units as it moves to strengthen its operations, improve service delivery and prepare for emerging security threats ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja said the changes will involve reviewing the mandates of existing police formations while introducing new units, including the Metropolitan Police Unit, National Government Administration Police Unit and Quick Response Unit.
Speaking on Friday during the passing-out parade of General Service Unit recruits at the National Police College Embakasi Campus in Nairobi, Kanja said the reforms were being implemented in line with the government’s strategic direction.
“In line with your strategic guidance, the National Police Service is undertaking the necessary restructure. We are reviewing and realigning the mandates of our core formations and establishing needful units, such as the Metropolitan Police Unit, the National Government Administration Police Unit, and the Quick Response Unit,” Kanja maintained.
The restructuring follows the National Police Service Standing (Amendment) Orders, 2026, published through Legal Notice No. 138 on July 30, which introduced a revised structure covering police formations, units and components.
The changes also established specialised formations such as the Nairobi Metropolitan Police, Judiciary Police Unit, Kenya Police Quick Response Unit and Kenya Police Marine Unit.
The National Government Administration Police Unit had earlier been launched in January 2025 to support the National Government Administration Office in high-risk operations, conflict management, peace-building and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.
Kanja said the latest changes were aimed at making policing more proactive and improving the service’s ability to respond to new security challenges.
“These structural adjustments are designed to modernize service delivery, improve proactive policing and tackle prevailing security threats effectively. Going forward, we will witness rejuvenated service that is better positioned to confront emerging security threats as we approach the 2027 general election.”
The reforms come as the police service continues to face pressure over its available personnel. According to the 2026 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya had one police officer for every 525 people in 2025, compared with one officer for every 504 people in 2024.
The survey recorded 68,493 Kenya Police officers, 25,697 Administration Police officers and 7,460 officers serving in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in 2025.
Kanja said the graduation of the latest GSU recruits would help increase the service’s operational capacity and improve its reach across the country.
“With the graduation of this final cohort, the National Police Service will expand the operational capacity and improve our police-to-population ratio significantly. This achievement will enable the service to enhance its presence across the country and provide policing services much more effectively,” Kanja maintained.
Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat said the newly trained officers had received intensive training in discipline, endurance, leadership and operational skills to prepare them for a changing security environment.
“Our goal is to raise the police to citizen ratio and strengthen our capacity to keep our people safe. Your Excellency, we present to you officers who are ready for the changing policing landscape. Technology is reshaping both crime and how we respond to it. These officers are prepared for the challenge ahead of them,” Lagat said.
The changes within the police service are also being accompanied by investments aimed at improving officers’ welfare and access to operational resources.
Kanja pointed to housing programmes, comprehensive medical cover and the motor vehicle leasing programme as some of the measures supporting police operations.
“The strategic investments that include the housing programs, the comprehensive medical cover and the motor vehicles leasing program have had a force multiplier effect in our policing duties. The additional new motor vehicles that you will flag off today will further enhance mobility and operational response, as well as the dignity and morale of our officers,” he said.
The ceremony marked the 50th passing-out parade since the establishment of the training institution.
It also came on the second anniversary of Kanja’s appointment as Inspector General, with September 18, 2026 marking two years since he took over the position.
Kanja called on the newly graduated officers and the wider police service to maintain high standards of professionalism and accountability while carrying out their duties.
“I urge all police officers, including those graduating today, to deliver services with absolute professionalism, integrity, accountability, and complete sense of duty,” he concluded.