By Anne Nyambura
The government has bolstered the National Police Service (NPS) with a new fleet of state-of-the-art armored vehicles, aimed at enhancing officers’ safety, mobility, and operational efficiency in tackling security challenges.
The commissioning ceremony, presided over by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, marked a major milestone in the government’s ongoing security modernization program.
Speaking at the General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters in Nairobi, Murkomen emphasized that the investment reflects the government’s commitment to equipping law enforcement with modern resources.
“We have put in place mechanisms not just for acquiring this equipment but for maintaining it. We will ensure the availability of spare parts, proper training for mechanics, and that none of these machines are grounded,” Murkomen said.He assured that in the upcoming supplementary budget, the government would allocate sufficient resources to ensure officers’ insurance coverage and sustain ongoing reforms to strengthen the police force. Murkomen further highlighted plans to integrate advanced technology, including drones and air surveillance equipment, into security operations.
“This is just the second year, and we will continue with this program annually until our officers have the proper equipment needed to secure the nation,” he added.Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo noted that the sector had suffered from underinvestment for over a decade.
“This program is part of broader security sector reforms to strengthen officers’ capacity,” Omollo said, emphasizing the importance of continuous maintenance and adapting to evolving security threats.Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja praised the initiative, stating that the armored vehicles had already improved security in previously volatile regions such as Meru, the North Rift, and North Eastern Kenya.
“The tanks are silent—not because we decided to be silent, but because of the effectiveness of these vehicles and the good training our officers have received,” Kanja said.The investment is part of the government’s broader strategy to modernize the police service and enhance national security.
