Murkomen: Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit will strengthen fight against emerging crime
By Faith Lagat, July 1, 2026Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit is taking shape as the government finalises plans to operationalise the specialised outfit aimed at tackling emerging crime and strengthening public safety in the capital.
In a statement shared on X on July 1, 2026, Murkomen said he received an update from the technical team tasked with establishing the unit. According to the CS, the team is refining the operational framework while ensuring officers will be properly equipped and trained to address evolving security threats.
“The Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit will be a model for future policing in Kenya. We must therefore get it right,” Murkomen said.
The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Directorate of Criminal Investigations Director Mohamed Amin, Deputy Inspectors General Eliud Lagat (Kenya Police Service) and Gilbert Masengeli (Administration Police Service), Internal Security Secretary Thomas Saka, Nairobi City County Head of Law Enforcement and Inspectorate Services Eva Wangechi, and other security officials.
Emerging crime
According to Murkomen, the technical team is fine-tuning the unit’s operational framework to ensure it is prepared to respond to emerging forms of crime while working closely with members of the public to maintain law and order.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit is expected to enhance coordination among security agencies operating within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and strengthen responses to security challenges affecting residents, businesses and critical infrastructure.
Government officials have previously indicated that the unit will focus on crime prevention, public order management, protection of strategic installations and improving overall security within the city and neighbouring counties.
The formation of the specialised unit comes as Nairobi continues to experience rapid urban growth, increasing pressure on security agencies and public services.
International policing models
The government has previously said the unit is being developed using lessons drawn from policing models in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Japan.
Murkomen has led a series of benchmarking visits in recent months to study modern policing systems, community policing, intelligence-led operations, technology use and urban security management.
During a visit to the City of London Police in June, the Kenyan delegation held discussions on policing financial districts, protecting critical infrastructure and managing public order. The delegation also met officials from the New York Police Department and the United Kingdom’s Home Office as part of broader security cooperation.
The benchmarking exercise is expected to inform the operational structure, training and deployment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit once it becomes fully operational.
Security reforms
The update on the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit comes as the Ministry of Interior continues implementing wider reforms within the National Police Service and other security agencies.
Murkomen has said the reforms seek to improve service delivery, strengthen collaboration between security agencies and communities, and modernise policing to respond to emerging security threats.
The ministry is also implementing recommendations from the Jukwaa La Usalama Report, with discussions focusing on bringing government services closer to citizens, addressing alcohol and substance abuse, and strengthening accountability in public institutions.
Officials said work on the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit is at an advanced stage, with the technical team continuing to refine the operational framework before the unit is rolled out.
The government says the unit is intended to strengthen policing within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area while serving as a model for future policing initiatives across the country.