On September 18, 2026, the highly specialized General Service Unit (GSU) tactical police force will hold its main Pass-Out Parade at the National Police College, Embakasi B Campus, after completing training at Magadi Field Campus on September 11, 2026.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has urged 1,273 newly trained General Service Unit (GSU) officers to remain ready for demanding assignments and serve wherever they are deployed.
Speaking today during the course closure at the National Police College–Magadi Field Campus in Kajiado County, Lagat said the challenging conditions at the training facility were intended to prepare the officers for the demands of police work.
He said the heat, rugged terrain, and difficult environment at Magadi were part of the training aimed at building the officers’ physical and mental resilience.
“Magadi is not an easy place to train, and that is precisely why it is critical to police training. You must be ready to serve where you are deployed, whenever you are called upon and whatever the circumstances,” he said.
“Stand firm. Stay disciplined. Be fair. Be humane. Serve with courage.”
History and Location of GSU’s Magadi Field Campus
The National Police Service College Magadi Field Campus is an extension of the National Police College Embakasi B Campus and provides field and practical training for officers undertaking various courses.
Located in Kajiado County, about 86 kilometres southeast of Nairobi, the campus sits in an area surrounded by several hills and the Olkeju Ngiro River.
Embalbal Osalei Hill, also known as Mt. Wambua, lies to the southeast, Olentonai Hill to the southwest and Olmakati Hill to the north.
Temperatures in the area range from highs of 42 degrees Celsius to lows of about 28 degrees Celsius.
Before settling at its current location, the training camp operated from several sites. GSU trainees first received specialized training at Kawap in Samburu County between 1973 and 1978 before the camp was moved to the Ol Pejeta area of Laikipia County in 1978.
In 1979, the camp was relocated to Kajiado County at the foot of the Ngong Hills. A year later, it moved to Kora in Magadi, about 1.4 kilometres off the Nairobi-Magadi Road, before being transferred to its present location in 1981.
At the time, the camp was commanded by the late RPJ Morgan, alias Bob Morgan, who served as Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (S/ACP), while Omar Bashir (SP) was the Officer Commanding the Junior Training Wing.
Training during that period included instructors from the United States and Israel, along with trainers from the General Service Unit.
The area also has a notable connection to GSU training history. RT Hill was previously known as Mt. Recruits, while Embalbal Hill was renamed Mt. Wambua on July 14, 1981.
The name change followed an achievement by then Sergeant Charles Wambua Kamito, alias “Umeme”, a field craft and minor tactics instructor.
Dressed in full “CEFO”, he climbed up and down the mountain in 10 minutes and five seconds, a record that the GSU says still stands.
Also Read: Inside Kiganjo Police College, Where Kenya Police Officers Are Trained Before Deployment
Training
The GSU recruit training programme runs for nine months and is divided into two main phases, beginning with basic police training before moving to advanced field and tactical training.
The first phase is conducted at the National Police Service College, Embakasi B Campus in Nairobi. Recruits learn Kenyan law, criminal investigation, human rights, police procedures, and professional ethics.
They also undergo physical fitness training, drills, and martial arts to build discipline and basic policing skills.
During this phase, recruits are also trained in the handling, safety, and basic operation of standard police firearms.
After completing the foundational training, recruits move to the Magadi Field Campus in Kajiado County for advanced tactical and field training.
Also Read: 8 Ceremonial Traditions Performed at KDF Pass-Outs and Their Meanings
The phase takes place in a semi-arid environment, where temperatures can rise to 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, and the terrain is rugged and rocky.
Training at Magadi focuses on advanced weapon handling and marksmanship, including the use of specialized firearms and other weapons under demanding conditions.
Recruits also undergo tactical exercises covering areas such as counter-terrorism, anti-banditry operations and urban combat.
Field exercises further test their endurance and ability to operate in difficult environments.
Recruits take part in long-distance route marches while carrying heavy equipment and learn survival skills, map reading, and land navigation with limited resources.
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