Nairobi is heading into one of its biggest security restructures in years, with the government preparing to divide the capital into three policing zones as part of a new command system set to be launched alongside the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit in May 2026.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that all preparations for the rollout of the new unit are complete, saying the capital will now operate under a redesigned structure aimed at improving coordination and response to crime.
Under the plan, the city will be split into Nairobi North, Nairobi West and Nairobi East, each placed under a dedicated sub-regional police commander.
Nairobi North will be based at Pangani and will cover Kasarani, parts of the central business district and sections of Eastleigh. Nairobi West will include Westlands, Kilimani, Lang’ata and Dagoretti, while Nairobi East will handle Embakasi, Njiru and Buruburu, with its command centre in Buruburu.
Each of the three commanders will report to regional police leadership, a move authorities say will strengthen supervision and reduce delays in communication between stations. The reforms are part of wider security changes ordered by President William Ruto aimed at improving urban policing systems.
Murkomen said the restructuring responds to rising crime levels and growing pressure on security services caused by rapid population growth in the capital. He said the new system is designed to make policing faster, more organised and more effective.
“The unit is designed to strengthen security in the high-population capital, making the city safer for residents, visitors and investors,” he said.
Once launched, the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit will operate within the new structure and work together with existing security agencies under a coordinated command system.
The National Government Administration Police Unit will also continue operating within the new arrangement, where it will support administrative officers, help secure public functions and assist in enforcement of government directives. It will also take part in peace efforts, conflict management and joint operations with other agencies.
The reforms come after a February 2026 agreement between the national government and Nairobi County that includes an investment package of about Sh80 billion for infrastructure and urban services.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the funds will support expansion of sewer systems, road upgrades, water supply projects, improved street lighting and better waste management.
About Sh1 billion has been allocated to support the new metropolitan police unit once it becomes fully operational, marking a major shift in how security will be managed in the capital.