More than 600 General Service Unit personnel have been deployed to the general duties in a move aimed at enhancing operations.
The officers from the ranks of senior sergeant, sergeant, corporal and constables have been deployed to various police stations in the country.
This was made in an internal memo from Deputy Inspector General of police Edward Mbugua who said the officers should report to their new stations by January 12.
“Inform and release them to report to their new station on or before January 12 without fail,” read part of the memo dated January 4.
The move is a boost to the general duty personnel who are starved ahead of a busy election period.
This is after more new police stations and posts were opened in a move aimed at bringing services closer to the people.
Most GSU officers are deployed to specialized units before they are sent to either general duties or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The move comes less than a month after 2,502 new recruits graduated from their Embakasi B Campus in Nairobi County in December after a 9-month Basic Police Training Course.
Officials said the move to transfer the 600 was normal and aimed at ensuring smooth operations of the service at large.
The National Police Service has mapped areas perceived to be hot spots ahead of the polls.
Ironically, Nairobi, Kisumu and Coast are not among the areas seen as hotspots as it has been in the past.
Instead, parts of Rift Valley have been classified as hotspots and commanders there told to make daily reports on political developments.
There are plans to make movements of the personnel before the party nominations are conducted.
Police usually conduct mappings based on various interests before they deploy their personnel.
During the graduation of the 2,502 personnel, president Kenyatta commended the GSU’s reputation for bravery, excellence and unfailing commitment to duty, advising the new officers to embrace discipline and talk to their seniors whenever faced with problems instead of engaging in acts of lawlessness and despair.
Acknowledging that the officers are joining the security sector at a time when the society at large is experiencing significant transformation and advancements in technology and external cultural influences, the president asked them to adapt to the dynamic security environment.
“You will, therefore, be required to operate in an environment that is quite distinct from that which prevailed at the beginning of this century. The needs and expectations of Kenyans have also increased, particularly since the promulgation of the new Constitution in the year 2010,” the President said.
On police welfare, the president said the government was implementing a comprehensive medical insurance cover for officers and their families.