Kenya to reopen regional police training hubs in fight against terrorism and banditry
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the decentralisation of police training would enhance the effectiveness of security operations nationwide.
In a bid to address Kenya’s evolving security threats, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced the revival of all regional police training centres.
He said the initiative will equip law enforcement officers with specialised skills to counter region-specific challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and inter-clan violence.
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Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum at the North Eastern Regional Commissioner’s residence in Garissa Town, Murkomen said the decentralisation of police training would enhance the effectiveness of security operations nationwide.
“This will improve police skills to combat banditry, inter-clan conflicts, terrorism, and other security threats,” Murkomen stated.
The CS linked insecurity in Northern Kenya to historical marginalisation, citing poor infrastructure and limited access to government services. He urged greater collaboration between security agencies and local communities, calling on chiefs and officers to be approachable in their work.
“Make sure you cooperate and blend with the people. Don’t be distant and detached from them — you will get vital information that will help you implement your official duties,” he said.
Murkomen also warned security officers against corruption, particularly in the issuance of national ID cards and involvement in cross-border smuggling, adding that surveillance has been stepped up on those suspected of illegal activity.
Proliferation of firearms
On the proliferation of firearms, he urged warring communities in Garissa to voluntarily surrender weapons before the government undertakes a forceful disarmament.
The forum offered chiefs, police officers, and community leaders a platform to air long-standing grievances ranging from poor working conditions to stalled promotions.
Senior Principal Chief Yussuf Abdi said some chiefs had served for more than 13 years without promotion and were struggling to manage vast areas without sub-location support or police presence.
“Some chiefs are managing locations without even a police post, despite promises to operationalise them,” Abdi noted.
Chief Mohamed Hudle of Dertu Location in Dadaab Sub-County linked rising insecurity and poaching to reduced food rations for refugees.
Police officers in Garissa also highlighted severe resource shortages, including a lack of vehicles, dilapidated housing, inadequate offices, and an acute shortage of female officers — a gap they said undermines the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
“All our female officers are stationed at Garissa police headquarters. Without female officers in sub-counties, many GBV cases go unreported — women and girls are often too shy to speak to male officers,” said the Officer Commanding Station in Jarajila, Fafi Sub-County.
Traffic police raised similar concerns. Chief Inspector Mohamud Hassan, who heads Garissa’s traffic base, lamented the lack of personnel and equipment, noting their only official vehicle had been recalled to Nairobi.
“Out of 10 sub-counties, only Garissa Town has a traffic base, which is grossly under-resourced,” he told Murkomen.
Youth leader Nasteh Farah Mowlid expressed concern over a surge in teen-related violence in Garissa, urging police to resist resolving robbery-with-violence cases through informal justice mechanisms.
Garissa Township Sub-County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring appealed for the gazettement of Burburis Police Post, built with NG-CDF funds, to address insecurity in the area.
Responding to the concerns, Murkomen said they would be considered at the policy level and emphasised the importance of such engagements in shaping the ministry’s decisions.
“This robust discussion will help improve policy consultation on issues affecting this region,” the CS concluded.
He was accompanied by top national security officials and senior officers from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
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