MURANG’A, Kenya — Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has launched a dedicated Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit for Del Monte Kenya, deploying specialised officers to secure the multinational agribusiness firm’s operations in a move that deepens public-private security partnerships.
The Administration Police Service unit, unveiled on Thursday, April 2, marks a strategic shift toward intelligence-led protection of corporate assets and neighbouring communities, with officers tasked with enhanced surveillance, rapid response, and sustained law enforcement presence.
Forum-Driven Response
The deployment stems directly from concerns raised during the Jukwaa la Usalama—Kiambu Chapter, a security stakeholders’ forum where participants demanded more coordinated, community-centred policing solutions.
“The establishment of this specialised unit is a deliberate, forward-looking response to these challenges and a clear demonstration of the Service’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate to protect life and property,” Kanja said.
The initiative reflects growing state emphasis on protecting agricultural investments that anchor rural economies, while raising governance questions about resource allocation between corporate security and public policing needs.
Corporate Welcome
Del Monte Kenya Managing Director Wayne Cook endorsed the partnership, framing it as “responsible, community-conscious policing” that safeguards both company operations and surrounding populations.
The unit responds to emerging security challenges in the area, ensuring what Cook described as a “more structured, responsive, and collaborative approach to security management.”
DIG Backs Partnership
Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli, accompanying Kanja, stressed that investments of Del Monte’s scale require robust security coordination.
“Investments of this scale and importance must be safeguarded through robust and well-coordinated security measures, not only to protect the company’s operations but also to secure the livelihoods that depend on them,” Masengeli said.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration would deliver “sustainable security outcomes, strengthen community relations, and serve as a model for effective public-private cooperation.”
Governance Implications
The specialised unit’s creation highlights evolving policing priorities under Kanja’s leadership, with the Service increasingly tailoring deployments to protect high-value economic assets.
However, the arrangement also spotlights governance tensions in Kenya’s security sector: the concentration of elite police resources around multinational corporations, while rural communities face chronic delays in understanding and response.
Senior officers present included APS Director of Security Operations Jackson Kangani, County Commissioners Hassan Bule (Murang’a) and Kibet Bowen (Kiambu), and County Police Commander Clet Kimaiyo, as well as regional Administration Police commanders from Kiambu, Murang’a, and Machakos.
