Chiefs Get A Special Police Unit to Streamline Service Delivery

When trouble knocks in the village, it doesn’t ask for a Cabinet Secretary – it asks for the chief.

And when the chief walks into tension, dispute, or danger, they’ll no longer walk alone – thanks to the newly-formed police unit.

The government has officially gazetted the operational framework of the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) – locking it into law as a specialised unit within the National Police Service.

What exactly is NGAPU? 

This is a dedicated police unit created to work alongside National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) – the same people who represent government authority at the most local level: locations, wards, sub-counties, and counties.

NGAPU exists to support chiefs, assistant chiefs, and other national government administrators to do their jobs – safely, lawfully and effectively.

What are The Units Standing Orders?

According to the gazetted Standing Orders, NGAPU officers are mandated to:

• Support chiefs and assistant chiefs as they carry out lawful duties.
• Provide protective security to government officers in administrative units.
• Enforce national laws, policies, and regulations during lawful operations.
• Offer security during public meetings, barazas, and community gatherings.
• Act as first responders – including apprehending offenders and preserving evidence.
• Support conflict management and peacebuilding efforts.
• Coordinate with other police and security agencies during joint operations.

It means that a chief is no longer exposed or vulnerable when dealing with land disputes, insecurity, enforcement of government directives, or high-risk community situations.

What’s the Command Structure with NGAPU? 

An important aspect of this framework is the command and accountability.

NGAPU officers:

• Report through a defined structure – from ward level to national command.
• Must record operations in official police occurrence books.
• Are subject to disciplinary procedures under the law and Constitution.
• Operate under approved standard operating procedures sanctioned by the Inspector-General.

Authority with Accountability

As the government strives to achieve social, economic and development, it starts with professionalising governance.

This framework seeks to align authority with responsibility, and ensuring that those enforcing the law are themselves protected by it.

In high-risk regions  – from parts of North Eastern to pockets of the Rift Valley – the reality is simple:

You can’t send civilian administrators into security hotspots without proper support.

In a Nutshell …. 

By gazetting NGAPU, the government has moved administrative security from grey area to clear law – defining roles, limits, and accountability.

Because, security is about preventing disorder by strengthening the institutions closest to the people.