Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit will significantly strengthen security and public order in the capital under a new coordinated policing model between national and county governments.
The unit has been designed as a specialised urban policing framework aimed at addressing Nairobi’s unique security challenges, including high population density, rapid urban growth, and complex crime patterns.
According to government briefings, the NMPU will operate under a multi-agency command structure, bringing together officers from different formations of the National Police Service to improve coordination and faster response to incidents across the city.
Murkomen has also stated that the unit is intended to serve as a model for other major cities, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru, once fully tested and operational in Nairobi.
The government says the initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at modernising policing, with emphasis on data-driven operations, intelligence-led policing, and improved inter-agency collaboration.
Officials have indicated that the unit will also integrate advanced surveillance systems, including upgraded CCTV networks across Nairobi, with efforts to link private security systems and public infrastructure to improve investigations and crime tracking.
Artificial intelligence tools are expected to play a role in analysing crime trends and helping security agencies identify hotspots for targeted interventions, according to earlier technical briefings on the project.
The Interior Ministry has further revealed that the unit will work closely with Nairobi County authorities, reflecting a cooperation agreement between the two levels of government aimed at improving urban governance and security delivery.
The technical committee overseeing its formation has already been tasked with benchmarking global metropolitan police models to develop operational standards, service procedures and administrative frameworks tailored for Nairobi.
Murkomen recently confirmed that the unit is expected to become operational by May 1, following ongoing preparations and recruitment planning within the National Police Service.
A senior officer, Tom Odero, has been appointed to head the new formation, which will operate under a coordinated command structure to enhance accountability and efficiency in policing the capital.
Security officials say the restructuring is also meant to reduce duplication of roles among police units and improve response times during emergencies, protests, and urban security incidents.
The government maintains that the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit represents a major step toward a more modern, responsive, and technology-enabled policing system for Kenya’s capital city.
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