The National Police Service (NPS) has undergone a significant restructuring, introducing the Nairobi Metropolitan Police alongside four specialised units. This overhaul was formalised in the National Police Service Standing (Amendment) Orders, 2026, published in the Kenya Gazette on July 30, 2026.

Signed by Inspector-General Douglas Kanja, the amendments replace the 2017 Service Standing Orders’ Chapter 7, outlining a new organisational structure for police formations.

New Formations and Units

  • Nairobi Metropolitan Police
  • Judiciary Police Unit
  • Kenya Police Quick Response Unit
  • Kenya Police Marine Unit

These units join existing formations such as the General Service Unit (GSU), Traffic Police, Presidential Escort Unit, and others under the Kenya Police Service. The Administration Police Service has also been reorganised to incorporate the Judiciary Police Unit alongside units like the Rapid Deployment Police and Anti-Stock Theft Police.

Expanded Authority for the Inspector-General

The amendments grant the Inspector-General authority to create, merge, reorganise, or abolish police formations, units, and investigative commands. All such changes require written approval from the Inspector-General, who is also responsible for resolving any mandate overlaps between units.

Furthermore, the Inspector-General must approve operational guidelines and standard operating procedures before implementation, ensuring these are accessible to all officers.

Command Structure and Collaboration

Deputy Inspectors-General will oversee command structures and deployment for the Kenya Police Service and Administration Police Service in consultation with the Inspector-General. Similarly, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will manage DCI formations and specialised commands in consultation with the Inspector-General.

Key DCI units such as the Counter-Terrorism Bureau, National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau, and the Homicide Investigations Bureau remain intact under the new framework.

Context and Background

The establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police follows initiatives by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to bolster security in the capital. In June 2026, they engaged with UK officials, including Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Shabana Mahmood, to learn from British public safety and crime prevention strategies.