Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed claims that the government plans to move the national Kiganjo Police Training College from Nyeri County to the North Rift region.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 30, Murkomen clarified that reports suggesting the relocation of the historic training institution were based on a misinterpretation of his earlier remarks on security reforms.
According to the CS, while the government intends to establish new multi-agency training facilities in insecurity-prone regions such as the North Rift, this does not include transferring Kiganjo from its current location.
“We are planning to set up additional training schools in these areas. The idea is that officers complete their foundational training in existing colleges and later proceed to field-based centres in affected regions to enhance their practical skills,” Murkomen explained.
He added that his comments had been misconstrued to suggest that Kiganjo would be shut down and moved to areas like Marakwet, a claim he firmly denied.
“That was never the intention. Kiganjo is not being closed or relocated,” he said.
Murkomen further noted that the National Police Service is transitioning towards a training model that prioritises hands-on, field-based instruction rather than relying solely on urban training institutions.
In a related development, the National Police Service has announced changes to its training curriculum, with modern policing elements such as forensic science, technology-driven investigations and cybercrime detection now set to be introduced at the initial training stage.
Previously, officers only encountered such specialisations after deployment to departments like the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Currently, basic police training in Kenya is conducted at three main institutions: Kiganjo Police Training College for regular police officers, Embakasi A for Administration Police recruits, and Embakasi B for General Service Unit (GSU) trainees.
Other facilities serve advanced and specialised roles, including Magadi Police Training College in Kajiado County, which focuses on tactical and field-based instruction for GSU officers and promotion candidates.
Murkomen also revealed that the government is in the advanced stages of establishing a National Police University as part of broader police reforms. Under the proposed plan, Kiganjo will be transformed into one of the university’s campuses, with its charter expected to be issued by the President.
The initiative, he said, was informed by feedback received during the Jukwaa la Usalama forums, where members of the public raised concerns that the current nine-month basic police training period is insufficient.
“There must be continuous training for officers to strengthen their operational capacity,” Murkomen stated.
Meanwhile, amid renewed insecurity in the Kerio Valley, the CS confirmed that the government will involve the Kenya Defence Forces in stabilisation efforts by setting up joint security training facilities in the region.
He noted that from January 2026, training centres for multiple security agencies, including the KDF, will be established in the Kerio Valley to enhance preparedness and support long-term peace initiatives.