NAIROBI, Kenya – The Railways and Port Police Unit has stepped up efforts to address mental wellness among officers, holding a two-day mental health workshop in Nairobi amid growing concern over stress, trauma and workplace pressures within the security sector.
The workshop, held at the Railways Training Institute, brought together officers from Nairobi and surrounding regions and was led by Commandant Geoffrey Mayek, an Assistant Inspector General (AIG).
Mental health professionals from the Kenya Police Service (KPS) Department of Counselling and Psychosocial Support, alongside the unit’s Counselling and Chaplaincy team, facilitated the sessions.
Participants were taken through a wide range of topics, including mental wellness and emotional intelligence, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol and substance use, self-care, emotional support systems, and gender-related differences in mental health.
Addressing the officers, Mayek underscored the need for police officers to prioritise their mental well-being, noting that emotional health directly affects performance, decision-making and relationships within the service.
“Mental health is not optional. Officers must take it seriously — for their own good and for the safety and well-being of their colleagues and the public,” he said.
Beyond wellness, the Commandant also used the forum to issue operational directives as the festive season approaches.
He urged officers to remain vigilant on security matters and to strengthen cooperation with other agencies in their areas of operation.
Mayek further called on commanders to adopt leadership styles that are fair, firm, flexible and friendly, while reminding all officers to uphold professionalism, shun corruption and treat members of the public with respect and courtesy.
The workshop was attended by Deputy Commandant Mary Wakuu, CP; Railways Police Unit SOP Ezra Onyango, SP; and Nairobi Terminus OCPD Sarah Kinyanjui, ASP.
