Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja are in New York, United States, on a benchmarking mission with the New York Police Department (NYPD) as Kenya prepares to establish the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 2, Murkomen revealed that he held talks with NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on potential areas of cooperation between the National Police Service (NPS) and the NYPD.
The discussions centered on a proposed memorandum of understanding aimed at supporting the formation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit and strengthening collaboration between the two law enforcement agencies.
Murkomen, Sakaja in New York. Photo: Courtesy.
Murkomen noted that the government is studying successful policing models from major metropolitan areas around the world to inform the development of the new unit.
Kenya is particularly interested in the NYPD’s approaches to intelligence-led policing, community engagement, technology-driven law enforcement, specialized urban operations, emergency response coordination, and crime prevention.
The delegation also included Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States David Kerich.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit was first proposed by President William Ruto in February, when he directed the Interior Ministry to develop a framework for its establishment.
The unit is expected to work alongside existing security agencies to improve safety and security in the capital.
In April, Murkomen disclosed that the government had already assembled a team to spearhead the initiative, emphasizing the need for a specialized policing structure capable of addressing the unique security challenges associated with Nairobi’s rapid urban growth and expanding population.
