National Police Service, UNDP sign agreement to boost police reforms

Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja presides over the signing of the Letter at the Service Headquarters, Jogoo House, on June 4, 2025 / NPS X

The National Police Service has signed a Letter of Agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marking a significant milestone in efforts to modernise and professionalise policing in Kenya.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja presided over the signing ceremony at the NPS headquarters in Jogoo House, Nairobi.

The partnership underscores a shared commitment to improving policing standards, deepening reforms and rebuilding public trust in law enforcement.

UNDP, the UN’s lead agency for international development, focuses on eradicating poverty, promoting sustainable economic growth, and enhancing human development. Its partnership with NPS is expected to accelerate police reforms and institutional development across the service.

The agreement outlines collaborative initiatives including executive dialogues on police reform, engagement with parliamentary oversight bodies, youth leadership training for Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) and Sub-County Youth Liaison Officers (SYLOs), and capacity-building programmes for Sub-County Police Commanders.

“This agreement is a strategic tool for institutional reform,” said IG Kanja. He praised UNDP and its Resident Representative for their continued support, underlining NPS’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes.

UNDP Resident Representative Madelena Monoja welcomed the partnership, expressing confidence that the training and reform initiatives would strengthen the relationship between the police and the Kenyan public.

The event was witnessed by key stakeholders in governance and justice, including Independent Policing Oversight Authority chairperson Issack Hassan, UNDP Senior Governance Adviser Anki Dellnas, Independent Medico-Legal Unit executive director Wangechi Kahuria, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Head of Principal Prosecution Counsel Linda Mwamburi, Office of the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Registrar Esther Nyaiyaki, and Commission on Administrative Justice Advisor Mary Kimari.

IG Kanja was accompanied by senior members of the police leadership, including DIG Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, DIG Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, and other top officers.