The United States of America (USA) committed to investing $7 million (Ksh927 million) in the National Police Service (NPS) during President William Ruto’s State visit to the US.
In a statement, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Eastern Africa on Wednesday, May 29, confirmed the project while listing ways in which the money will be used to improve the NPS.
UNODC Eastern Africa revealed that the $7 million project is being advanced by the US government through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
According to the office, the project is aimed at strengthening the Kenya police college’s talent development capabilities and physical infrastructure by modernizing the NPS College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
“This week, U.S. President Joesph R. Biden and Kenyan President William S. Ruto met in Washington, DC, on the sidelines of President Ruto’s State Visit, where President Biden announced USA support to Kenya to modernize and update the Kenyan National Police Service (NPS) College Main Campus in Kiganjo,” read part of the statement.
Kiganjo Police College Commandant Nyale Munga while welcoming the project noted that it will enhance its capacity of providing high-quality training.
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According to Munga, the project will focus on developing skills and will create an enabling environment for these officers to be properly trained, nurtured, coached and mentored.
How Kenya Police will use US$7 million from the US
He said that the college which plays a vital role in training recruits as well as specializing in the training of junior-level managers has been marred with the challenge of outdated and inadequate state of the facilities which the project is set to address.
“For decades, the NPS Main Campus in Kiganjo has trained and developed outstanding police officers who are at the frontline of the fight against crime in Kenya.
This project will also significantly enhance the NPS capacity to provide high-quality training and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity to better serve our nation,” he said.
Additionally, the project will facilitate the refurbishment of the infrastructure of the college, which will upgrade the current learning equipment, modernize classrooms, and support the construction of a modern library.
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At the same time, the Commandant revealed that the project will also support the College and other select criminal justice entities.
UNODC Representative for Eastern Africa Neil Walsh, on his part, announced that the project will focus on developing skills.
He said that it will create an enabling environment for Kenyan officers to be properly trained, nurtured, coached and mentored.
According to Walsh, the project will strengthen the college’s training operations by supporting the college administration to improve knowledge development and talent management.
“It will also enhance the professional and technical development of the academy instructors, revise, refresh and modernize the course syllabi, to focus on adult learning techniques, and strengthen the existing capacity of trainers and staff,” said Walsh.
Further, the project is set to facilitate the refurbishment of the infrastructure of the NPS Kiganjo College, which will upgrade the current learning equipment, modernize classrooms, and support the construction of a modern library.
Other benefits
The project will also support the College and other select criminal justice entities to improve their communication. This is through the development of proactive, modern and consistent communications strategies to encourage transparency and outreach to the communities they serve.
INL Director for Kenya Kevan Higgins while welcoming the project pointed out that it emphasizes the U.S Government’s commitment to help strengthen law enforcement capabilities in Kenya.
He stressed that the INL is proud to support initiatives that contribute to improving the capacities of law enforcement agencies in Kenya.
“This project underscores our commitment to promote security and stability in Kenya by strengthening the capacity and capability of Kenya’s oldest police academy and investing in the quality of instruction of police personnel.
And, given the strength of the Kenya-United States-UNODC relationship, this is the ideal method to deliver strategic change,” he said.
UNODC has, since the establishment of the Regional Office for Eastern Africa in 1979, been working with the Government of Kenya to strengthen the capacity of its law enforcement officers to better combat transnational organized crime.
The office maintained that the project is the next step in its cooperation with Kenya and will have a real impact in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Kenya and UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Eastern Africa.
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