IG Kanja upgrades 92 police posts into stations in major boost to law enforcement across Kenya

The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has gazetted the elevation of 92 police posts across the country into fully fledged police stations, in a move aimed at enhancing law enforcement and accessibility of police services at the grassroots level.

In a gazette notice dated October 3, IG Kanja said the changes were made under Section 40(1) of the National Police Service Act, allowing the affected establishments to operate with full administrative and investigative powers.

The upgraded facilities include police posts at Manda Airstrip, Kisumu Airport, Kakamega Airport, Eldoret Airport, and Lokichogio Airstrip, alongside several others in Murang’a, West Pokot, Kiminini, Samburu West, Molo, Njoro, Nyatike, Seme, and Suba Central sub-counties.

The new designation means the stations can now officially handle criminal investigations, detentions, and other core policing duties, responsibilities that were previously beyond the mandate of police posts.

“A police post is designated as a police station by the IG following criteria set by the National Police Service Commission, which assesses community needs, infrastructure, and readiness,” the notice explained.

The upgrade follows recent government efforts to strengthen security infrastructure across the country. In September, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced plans to allocate funds in the supplementary budget for redesigning police stations nationwide.

Murkomen said the new model police stations will include essential amenities such as gender desks, OCS offices, desks for handling child-related incidents, CCTV surveillance systems, secure armouries, and ICT equipment to enhance efficiency.

“We do not want a situation where people are constructing their own version of police stations,” said Murkomen. “We will work with relevant boards to ensure we build complete and modern facilities.”

The Interior CS also revealed that the government will prioritise the construction of 300 new police stations as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s security network and ensure every Kenyan community is adequately served.

With these reforms, the National Police Service is expected to enhance its presence, improve public trust, and deliver faster response to crime across Kenya.