President William Ruto has directed the immediate establishment of a National Government Administrative Police Unit to enhance security in rural areas and protect local administrators from increasing attacks by criminals.

The directive was issued during the unveiling of the Jukwaa la Usalama report at State House on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

Specialised unit to boost rural security

President Ruto expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in villages. “Tumesikia kwamba kule vijijini, kuna watu wahuni wanabeba panga na visu na silaha na Chief akienda pale anapigwa wanaoleta vujo kuumiza wananchi na kuleta maafa,” he said.

To address the challenge, he instructed the Inspector General of Police to operationalise the unit immediately. “So, nimeambia IG tuanzishe National Government Administration Police Unit to operationalise,” he announced.

The president revealed that the specialised unit will initially consist of 1,860 police officers who will work closely with chiefs and their assistants nationwide.

“The unit to begin with 1860 police officers deployed ndio wasaidiane na chiefs kule mashinani kuhakikisha kwamba kuna usalama katika vijiji, we start there bwana IG as we ensure that every county gets the police unit,” Ruto said.

Support for Chiefs

The announcement followed appeals from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who highlighted the welfare challenges faced by chiefs and assistant chiefs. Murkomen said local administrators have long worked under difficult conditions with inadequate support.

He urged the president to approve long-overdue promotions for officers, noting that many have served for decades without advancement. He also called for restoration of operational funds and the authority to incur expenses for National Government Administrative Officers, which he said have been progressively reduced.

Murkomen further advocated for improved work injury benefits and insurance cover, noting that administrators are frequently assaulted, sued by illicit brewers, or injured while enforcing the law.

“On matters of insurance and work injury benefits, they are sometimes sued by illicit brewers; they are even fought by goons; they are sometimes injured. We need to improve the compensation of chiefs and assistant chiefs who suffer in the line of duty,” he said.

He also requested the provision of proper transport for the officers, who currently rely on public means despite constant movement in their areas of jurisdiction.