Why there is growing fears over roles of Nairobi Metro Police unit

Questions linger over the proposed formation of a new police unit under the shared agreement signed between President William Ruto and Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja.

President Ruto on Tuesday directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to establish a special outfit to be known as the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.

He said the officers will work closely with Nairobi County security teams, adding that the move is aimed at making the city safer for residents, investors and visitors.

“Security in non-negotiable, especially for a modern city like Nairobi. I therefore direct the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to prepare and present a framework within 60 days for a dedicated Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit,” Ruto stated.

However, questions remain over the unit’s command structure, how it will coordinate with County askaris and the full scope of its operations. 

On Wednesday, Murkomen clarified that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration will establish a specialised Metro-police unit as part of the agreement between Nairobi County and the national government.

According to CS Kipchumba, the unit will focus on combating crime along city runways and enhancing CCTV coverage on major roads and streets.

He expressed support for the pact, which involves Nairobi County relinquishing certain functions, including water and sewerage, roads, bridges, drainage, housing and related infrastructure.

He stated that the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit would work closely with local businesses and the government plans to deploy modern cameras equipped with Artificial Intelligence to speed up investigations and address security gaps.

The unit, modelled on global best practices, will serve as a prototype for deployment in other city areas nationwide, setting a benchmark for enhanced urban security.

“Some people question the partnership between the national government and Nairobi County, but this is constitutionally supported,” he said.

He described the agreement as the best framework to strengthen intergovernmental relations, reinforced by the Urban Areas and Cities Act.

However, the plan remains clouded by uncertainty, with some experts and county enforcement officials warning that it could revive the confusion seen under the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services.

“That time, about 30 police officers were brought in to join us, but the plan did not work as expected because we are trained differently. They did not understand many city-specific issues,” said an inspectorate officer.

He added, “At some point, the officers started demeaning us, yet our training focuses on security and enforcing bylaws. Some of them would harass our officers, leading to frequent friction.”

Security analyst George Musamali noted that for such an arrangement to succeed, any police unit joining must have clearly defined roles.

“When you bring in a Metropolitan Police unit, it means they are not coming to replace the county officers or enforce the penal code, but to support the county in enforcing city bylaws,” he explained.

Currently, police officers patrolling the city centre do not have powers to arrest individuals for spitting, littering, or urinating in public.

“If the unit ends up duplicating regular police duties, it will create chaos because there is already an existing structure in place,” Musamali added. “They need to clearly specify the role of the Metropolitan Police Unit. If they are coming to support bylaw enforcement, then that is acceptable,” Musamali explained.

He added, “If they are tasked with normal police duties, it will inevitably create friction between the regular police command and those reporting to City Hall.”