Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has revealed plans to train 2,500 officers from both the Nairobi County Inspectorate and the National Police Service (NPS) to establish a specialised Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit. This initiative aims to bolster security across the capital by shifting focus from traffic policing to enhanced patrols and rapid emergency responses.
The governor made the announcement at St. Austin's Church in Westlands, highlighting that the unit will be formed under the National-County Cooperation Agreement. The move is designed to address Nairobi’s unique security challenges as a city of over seven million residents.
Kamukunji Police Station has been selected for rehabilitation and expansion to serve as the new headquarters for the metropolitan unit, providing a central command centre for the specialised force.
Integrated Surveillance and Command Centre
As part of the broader security reforms, Nairobi County will also implement a citywide CCTV surveillance network linked to a new Traffic Management Centre at City Cabanas along Mombasa Road. This multi-billion-shilling digital hub will integrate AI-powered surveillance, police monitoring, and automated traffic enforcement.
Governor Sakaja noted that the system will also incorporate CCTV feeds from private businesses and institutions to improve crime detection and emergency response times.
Learning from Global Best Practices
The reforms were inspired by benchmarking visits to New York and London alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, focusing on modern metropolitan policing models.
"Security is a critical issue for any major city, and these efforts under the Cooperation Agreement with the National Government will help Nairobi move forward," Sakaja stated.
