President William Ruto has announced that the rollout of the Nairobi Metropolitan Policing Framework will begin in the coming days, marking a major shift towards community-led policing in the capital and its surrounding areas.
The President said the new policing model will place communities at the centre of security management by bringing together residents, community leaders, the National Police Service, Nairobi City County and other stakeholders to jointly identify security priorities and develop local solutions.
Ruto spoke after receiving a progress briefing on the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit (NMPU) from senior officials drawn from the Ministry of Interior, the National Police Service and the Nairobi County Government.
"I am pleased with the progress made on the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police, an initiative that will place communities at the centre of policing," the President said.
He said the framework is designed to strengthen collaboration between citizens and law enforcement agencies through consultation, public participation and enhanced oversight.
According to Ruto, the Nairobi Metropolitan Policing Framework will lay the foundation for a more coordinated, accountable and community-driven approach to policing across the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
"The rollout of the Nairobi Metropolitan Policing Framework will commence in the coming days, laying the foundation for a more coordinated, accountable and community-led approach to policing across the Nairobi Metropolitan Area," he said.
The President expressed confidence that the initiative would improve public safety while rebuilding trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
"Together, we will strengthen public safety, deepen trust between communities and law enforcement, and build safer and more secure neighbourhoods for all," Ruto said.
The briefing at State House was attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, his deputies, alongside DCI boss and other National Police Service commanders.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also attended the meeting alongside officials from the county government, underscoring the partnership between the national and county governments in implementing the new security framework.
The NMP initiative is expected to enhance coordination among security agencies while increasing community participation in identifying and addressing security challenges.
The government has previously indicated that the framework will promote intelligence-led policing, improve accountability and encourage closer engagement between residents and law enforcement officers.
The framework draws on lessons from benchmarking visits conducted by Murkomen, Sakaja and top NPS officers to metropolitan police services in New York, London, Rome and Tokyo.
During the visits, the Kenyan officials studied intelligence-led policing, community policing, the use of technology, emergency response and urban crime management to guide the establishment of the NMPU
The rollout comes amid renewed efforts by the government to strengthen security in Nairobi and surrounding counties by adopting policing models that encourage public participation and local ownership of security initiatives.
