Seven police officers have been ordained as Pentecostal pastors.
According to reports, the seven were commissioned as chaplains in a ceremony held at Thika Police Chapel to address rising mental health challenges within the service.
Reports indicate that the officers drawn from the Administration Police (AP), General Service Unit (GSU), National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the regular police, will join 32 chaplains currently serving in the Central Region.
They will be expected to provide counselling, spiritual support and emotional care to colleagues dealing with stress, trauma and other mental health pressures linked to police work.
Furthermore, the chaplaincy programme is intended to strengthen internal support systems within the service.
Police officers ordained as pastors
According to the police service, the decision was prompted by the fact that officers face intense situations in the line of duty.
It further stated that while they are trained to confront crime, they are not always equipped to deal with the emotional toll of the job.
The officers are often judged harshly despite facing significant professional and personal pressures.
Reports indicate that newly ordained chaplains graduated from accredited theological colleges with certificates in theological studies.
As a result, plans are underway to establish chapels in every sub-county across the Central Region to expand access to counselling and spiritual guidance for officers.
