President William Ruto on Wednesday launched the National Police Service Leadership Academy in Ngong, Kajiado county.
The academy is envisaged to be a centre of excellence in offering security and policing-related management courses geared towards the transformation of police management.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of State said that the government is committed to ensuring that the police service is professionalised to fully deliver on its mandate of offering public safety and security services to Kenyans.
"The academy would play a critical role in the professionalisation of the security agency," he said.
President Ruto also said the government would accelerate its efforts to better the working conditions of police officers.
He announced that he had appointed a taskforce to identify the areas that needed to be addressed in order to seal the existing gaps in the service.
The President also assured of his personal support and that of the government to the Inspector General of police and all the commanders across the country, in ensuring that they deliver on their mandate.
He also reminded security officers that their cardinal responsibility is securing the lives and property of Kenyans as this would ensure stability, resulting to development.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was also present during the launch observed that the leadership Academy couldn’t have come at a better time, as it would impart useful leadership skills to police commanders to boost service delivery in the police service.
In his remarks during the ceremony, the IG Japhet Koome appreciated the critical role that the Academy would play in creating an environment where police training and academic research would be combined to ensure professionalism in the service.
Also present during the ceremony were Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki, Kajiado county Governor Joseph Ole lenku, Central Bank Governor Prof Patrick Njuguna among other senior government officials and top police commanders.
