Top cops urged to lead with integrity, vision and accountability

Top police leadership hold the key to delivering services to the public in the country, police bosses have said.

Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin told a group of police commanders that their leadership is key in having a world-class service.

They challenged the group of about 80 commanders to uphold integrity, vision, accountability, and mentorship, stressing their importance in improving public service delivery.

“True leadership is not about being in charge, but about taking care of those in your charge,” Lagat said.

He spoke at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA) in Ngong, Kajiado, where he delivered a lecture on leadership to senior officers undertaking the County Commanders Course.

The session explored various leadership theories, each offering unique insights into how leaders influence their teams.

It emphasised that effective leadership is situational and people-centred.

Lagat said there is no one-size-fits-all leadership style, urging commanders to adapt their approaches based on context and operational needs.

He told the group to uphold the highest ethical standards to maintain public trust and internal cohesion.

“Modern policing demands adaptive, tech-savvy, and community-focused leadership qualities essential for transforming police stations into centres of excellence,” he said.

For his part, Amin reiterated his commitment to supporting the commanders with the DCI’s available resources and capabilities.

Amin accentuated that the ultimate goal of achieving a world-class and highly efficient police service lies squarely with the top management, affirming that this can only be achieved through the highest levels of professionalism, both by the senior and junior officers.

He encouraged the officers to take advantage of the DCI experts at their disposal, including those from the Forensics, Homicide and Anti-Narcotics Directorates when faced with complex or extremely challenging cases, adding that the accomplished hawkshaws are undoubtedly equal to the task.

“You need to adopt core values such as accountability, integrity and justice in your quest to provide top-notch security services within your areas of command.”

Academy Commandant David Mathiu said the police bosses’ invaluable insights will go a long way in inculcating a proactive and adaptive approach to ever-changing crime trends across the three Services.

The five-week County Commanders Strategic Leadership Course is devised to enhance the senior officers’ strategic leadership adeptness, objectively facilitating effective coordination across various policing wings, consequently appreciating fraternisation among senior officers from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and the DCI.