Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has gazetted four new specialized police formations, including the Nairobi Metropolitan Police, in a major restructuring of the National Police Service (NPS) aimed at strengthening security operations, improving coordination and enhancing service delivery across the country.
The changes, announced through a Gazette Notice issued by the Inspector General, form part of broader reforms under the amended National Police Service organizational structure designed to modernize policing and improve the Service's response to emerging security threats.
The newly established formations are the Nairobi Metropolitan Police, the Judiciary Police Unit, the Quick Response Unit and the Kenya Police Marine Unit.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police, the newest of the formations, will coordinate policing and security operations across the Nairobi Metropolitan Area to address the region's unique security needs and strengthen integrated law enforcement.
The Judiciary Police Unit has been established to provide dedicated security for courts, judicial officers, court users and judicial facilities, while the Quick Response Unit will serve as a rapid deployment team for emergencies, high-risk incidents and other situations requiring immediate police intervention.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Police Marine Unit will bolster security along the country's coastline, lakes and inland waterways by combating marine crime, improving water safety and protecting Kenya's maritime interests.
"The new formations are part of broader reforms under the amended National Police Service organizational structure, which seeks to modernize policing, improve coordination among specialized units and enhance the Service's capacity to respond to emerging security threats across the country," officials said.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police has attracted particular attention following President William Ruto's directive to establish a specialized formation to transform policing within the capital through a modern, technology-driven and highly mobile operational model.
The President's guidance followed a review of proposals for the new unit, with officials noting that the Constitution empowers the Inspector General to establish specialized police formations within the existing framework of the National Police Service.
To preserve the constitutional command structure, the President directed that the new unit remain under the command of the Inspector General through the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service while enhancing regional coordination across Nairobi.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police will be headed by Commandant Tom Odero, who will report to the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service.
Kamukunji Police Station has been designated as the proposed headquarters of the new formation and will host the Integrated Command and Communication Centre (IC4), which will coordinate security operations in real time.
The headquarters will also house a Multi-Agency Liaison Office to improve collaboration with national and county security agencies.
Operational command will cascade through sub-region and sub-county commanders supported by metropolitan police stations, police posts and patrol bases to strengthen police visibility and rapid response across Nairobi.
The formation will also comprise specialized operational units responsible for diplomatic security, public safety, enforcement, traffic management, criminal investigations and security patrols.
Government officials said the new policing model is expected to strengthen public confidence, improve emergency response and support Nairobi's continued growth as a regional commercial, financial and diplomatic hub.
The establishment of the new specialized formations marks one of the most significant organizational reforms within the National Police Service in recent years as authorities seek to build a more integrated, responsive and technology-driven policing system.