President William Samoei Ruto on Friday presided over the pass out parade of a new generation of General Service Unit (GSU) officers at the National Police College, Embakasi ‘B’ Campus, as the specialised unit marked 50 years of its passing-out tradition.
The parade marked the culmination of intensive training in discipline, endurance, leadership and operational skills, with Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat welcoming the graduands into the Service as highly trained and specialised elite officers.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lagat said the Golden Jubilee marked a proud tradition that has continued to produce officers for specialised roles in the Kenya Police Service.
“As we mark this Golden Jubilee, we welcome a new generation of highly trained and specialised elite officers into the Service,” Lagat said.
He said the new officers were entering service at a time when the policing landscape was changing, with technology reshaping both crime and the response to it.
“Your Excellency, we present to you officers who are ready for the changing policing landscape. Technology is reshaping both crime and how we respond to it. These officers are prepared for the challenge,” Lagat said.
The DIG also commended President Ruto for attending every police passing-out parade held during the year, saying his presence demonstrated that Kenya values the service of its police officers.
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Lagat said the Government’s goal was to raise the requisite police-to-citizen ratio and strengthen the capacity of the National Police Service to keep the country safe.
President Ruto congratulated the graduands for completing the demanding course and earning the responsibility of serving in the red beret.
He commended the Commandant, instructors and support staff for preparing the officers for duties in which hesitation can cost lives, poor judgement can deepen danger and discipline can determine the fate of a mission.
The President also highlighted measures to improve the welfare of police officers, including a pipeline of 137 housing projects comprising more than 28,000 units.
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He said 870 units had been completed, about 12,000 were under construction, more than 1,500 were under procurement, while a further 15,000 were planned for development.
The projects include developments at the GSU Headquarters in Ruaraka, the Presidential Escort Unit in Ruiru Camp and the GSU Training School in Embakasi.
On remuneration, President Ruto said the three-phase review of police pay had delivered a 36 per cent increase in entry-level basic pay, with corresponding adjustments across the ranks.
Together with allowances, he said, the cumulative monthly remuneration for an entry-level police constable now stands at approximately KSh49,000.
Lagat urged the new officers to carry the lessons acquired at the National Police College into every assignment, describing the passing-out parade as the beginning of their professional journey.
He also recognised the role played by families in supporting the graduands through their demanding training.
The ceremony was attended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja, service commanders, senior Government officials, elected leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and families and friends of the graduands.
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