Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a comprehensive initiative to enhance security in the capital by establishing a specialised Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit. The plan involves intensive training for 2,500 officers drawn from the Nairobi County Inspectorate and the National Police Service (NPS).
Speaking after a church service at St. Austin’s Church in Westlands, Sakaja highlighted the need for a shift from traffic-centric policing to enhanced security patrols and rapid response tailored to Nairobi’s unique security demands. The city’s daytime population exceeds seven million, necessitating more robust security measures.
Training and Headquarters Upgrade
- The selected officers will undergo rigorous training designed to address Nairobi’s specific security challenges.
- Kamukunji Police Station will be refurbished and expanded to serve as the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit’s headquarters.
Technology and Surveillance Enhancements
As part of wider reforms, Nairobi will introduce an integrated CCTV surveillance network linked to a new Traffic Management Centre (TMC) at City Cabanas along Mombasa Road. This multi-billion-shilling facility will act as a digital command centre, incorporating AI-powered surveillance, police monitoring, and automated traffic enforcement.
The system will also incorporate CCTV cameras from private institutions and businesses, enhancing crime detection, monitoring, and emergency response throughout the city.
International Benchmarking
Governor Sakaja and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior have conducted benchmarking visits to New York and London to study modern metropolitan policing models. The insights gained will guide the development of Nairobi’s new security framework.
These reforms are part of a Cooperation Agreement between the National and County governments aimed at modernising Nairobi’s security infrastructure and improving public safety.
