Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin /HANDOUT
The Inspector-General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja has summoned top police commanders to Nairobi for discussion over among others rising state of criminal gangs in the country.
The gangs have in the past days been terrorising residents and are linked to politicians.
Some of them have so far been arrested and prosecuted while the majority remain at large.
On Tuesday, Kanja, once again ordered an immediate and intensified crackdown on criminal gangs across the country, warning senior police commanders against any form of operational negligence.
Speaking during a high-level security summit at the National Police Leadership Academy, Kanja directed commanders to adopt efficient and adaptive policing strategies that maximise available resources to maintain law and order for all Kenyans, residents and visitors.
The Inspector-General issued a stern warning over the resurgence of criminal gangs, declaring a zero-tolerance approach to laxity in police operations.
"If we let them continue with their activities we are losing it. Let us act now," he said.
He reaffirmed the National Police Service’s commitment to public safety, enforcement of the law, and the creation of a secure environment necessary for social and economic prosperity.
The summit brought together top leadership from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to review the country’s security situation, assess emerging crime trends and develop strategic interventions aimed at strengthening national security.
Kanja was accompanied by Deputy Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, Deputy Inspector-General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin.
Addressing the commanders, the Inspector-General praised senior officers for their efforts in confronting evolving security threats and called for sustained vigilance and professionalism in service delivery.
The meeting comes amid heightened concern over criminal gangs and other emerging security threats, with the police leadership emphasising coordinated operations and intelligence-led policing to safeguard the country.
The latest such incident of criminal gangs happened on June 12 when a group attacked a meeting at a church event at the All Saints Cathedral and robbed them of cash and valuables.
At least five suspects have so far been arrested and produced in court as police pursue more accomplices.
Those arrested have mentioned a Nairobi Member of Parliament as the one who sent them to disrupt the meeting that was called to discuss the National Budget that had been presented.
The attack has attracted condemnation from various parties as it comes in the wake of similar others that remain unsolved.
It also comes amid ongoing political campaigns in the country ahead of the 2027 polls when many fear the goons will be used for political purposes.
Kanja disowned the trend and denied police are protecting the gangs.
Among the senior officers who attended the meeting were APS Director of Operations Jackson Kangani, KPS Director of Logistics Peter Ndung’u, Head of the Investigations Bureau Francis Ndiema, NPS Airwing Commandant James Kabo, Director of Community Policing Judy Lamet, Director of Forensic Services Sospeter Munyi, NPC “A” Campus Commandant Isaac Alimaa, ASTU Commandant Joseph Limo, BPU Commandant Davis Lomwatu, KPS Director of Reforms William Yiampoy and RDU Commandant Godfrey Otunge.
