By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 16 December 2025 - Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has declared an intensified crackdown on politically linked gangs, saying the National Police Service (NPS) will not tolerate criminal elements operating under the protection of politics as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of the 2025 recruits’ course at the National Police College main campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, Mr Kanja said the fight against organised goons had become a personal priority for his office.
Out of 10,000 newly recruited constables, 5023 have joined the Kiganjo college.
“The issue of goons being entrenched in political circles is something I am personally dealing with as Inspector-General,” he said, warning that such groups would be dismantled using the full force of the law.
The Inspector-General announced that more than 10,000 new police officers are expected to join the Service within the next nine months, significantly boosting policing capacity across the country.
“These recruits will be the starting point. With over 10,000 new officers, we will be better placed to maintain law and order as we head towards the 2027 General Elections. Basically, we are simply saying that goons have no space here in Kenya,” he said.
Mr Kanja also addressed long-standing logistical challenges affecting police operations, particularly the shortage of vehicles in stations.
He said the situation was set to improve following President William Ruto’s recent pledge that the National Police Service would receive about 3,000 new vehicles.
“Transport is a key component of effective policing. These vehicles will greatly facilitate officers to carry out their duties in accordance with the law,” he noted.
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On national security, the police chief assured Kenyans that the country remains safe, with security agencies on high alert during the festive season.
He said officers on leave had been recalled to reinforce deployments and ensure public safety during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“Our officers will remain on duty throughout the festive season so that citizens can celebrate in peace,” Mr Kanja said.
Turning to the new recruits, he described their enlistment as a calling to service, urging them to uphold integrity, professionalism, and respect for the law.
He said the nine-month training programme at Kiganjo would equip them with modern policing skills, including community-oriented and intelligence-led policing, to respond to emerging security challenges.
Mr Kanja reiterated his commitment to reforms within the National Police Service, aligned with the NPS 2023–2027 strategic plan, aimed at transforming police stations into centres of excellence for service delivery.
“You are the future of this Service,” he told the recruits. “The badge you aspire to wear represents a covenant with the people of Kenya – to protect, to serve, and to uphold the law.”
