Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has unveiled a sweeping security reform plan for the capital, including the training of 2,500 officers to form a specialised Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.
Speaking after a church service at St. Austin's Church in Westlands on Sunday, Sakaja said the officers will be drawn from the Nairobi County Inspectorate and the National Police Service (NPS). They will undergo vigorous training tailored to address the unique security challenges facing the city.
The new unit will be established under the National-County Cooperation Agreement and is designed to shift policing in Nairobi from a largely traffic-focused approach to enhanced security patrols and rapid response.
"We will train 2,500 police officers from the county and the National Police Service. They will undergo vigorous training to address the security challenges of the city. We need more security patrols in Nairobi than traffic patrols because this is a city of seven million people with unique security needs," Sakaja said.
Kamukunji Police Station to Become New Headquarters
As part of the reforms, Sakaja announced that Kamukunji Police Station will be rehabilitated and expanded to serve as the headquarters of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit. The facility will provide a central command for the specialised force and is expected to house operational offices, police accommodation, and an Integrated Command and Communication Centre. Construction of the new security complex is scheduled to commence in August 2026.
Digital Command Centre at City Cabanas
The county will also roll out an integrated citywide CCTV surveillance network linked to a new Traffic Management Centre at City Cabanas along Mombasa Road. The multi-billion-shilling facility will serve as Nairobi's digital command centre, bringing together AI-powered surveillance systems, police monitoring operations, and automated traffic enforcement.
Sakaja added that CCTV cameras owned by private institutions and businesses will also be integrated into the system to improve crime detection, monitoring, and emergency response.
"The use of cameras will be key. City Cabanas will host Nairobi's new digital traffic nerve hub, and we will integrate it with private cameras to improve security and enhance response to incidents across the city," he said.
Benchmarking Visits to New York and London
Sakaja revealed that the reforms were informed by benchmarking visits undertaken with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to New York and London to study modern metropolitan policing models.
"We have already benchmarked in New York and London as we seek to move our country forward. One of the most critical issues in any city is security, and that is why we are implementing this under the Cooperation Agreement with the National Government," he said.
The reforms form part of the broader cooperation agreement between the National and County governments to modernise Nairobi's security infrastructure, expand surveillance technology, and enhance public safety in Kenya's capital.
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