NPS partners with UN Women to enhance peace support operations
By Joel Masibo, January 13, 2026The National Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality by partnering with the United Nations Women.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the NPS said that over the years, the Service has made deliberate efforts to increase the representation, participation, and leadership of women in both national security and international peacekeeping operations.
Guided by this vision, the Service said it continues to collaborate with strategic partners that share a common goal. Backing the new working frame, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, held discussions with a delegation from UN Women on enhancing institutional support, particularly through the Elsie Initiative Fund.
The NPS hailed the discussions, terming them a step forward to tackling barriers that limit the recruitment of female officers in the peacekeeping sector.
Elsie Initiative Fund
”The Fund aims to remove financial barriers that may limit the recruitment and deployment of uniformed female peacekeepers. This will accelerate institutional change and ensure that more uniformed women are not only deployed to peace operations but are empowered to participate meaningfully and lead effectively in advancing global peace and security.” The statement said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the UN Women team was represented by Mercy Njeri, on behalf of the UN Women Country Director, Antonia N’Gabala-Sodonon, and Hellen Muchunu.
Also attending the meeting from NPS were: the Principal Assistant to the Inspector General (PAIG-NPS), Mathew Kutoh, SAIG; the Staff Officer for Peace Support Operations, Albert Masese, the NPS Deputy Director of Reforms, David Gachoki; the NPS Deputy Director of Training, Gideon Kirui; the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) Police Liaison Officer, Zipporah Nderitu; and the NPS Legal Representative, Achieng Awiti.