NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has approved the command structure for the newly established Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, clearing the way for its operationalisation after weeks of legal and administrative consultations.
The new specialised police formation will be headed by former Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Tom Odero, who will serve as the unit’s first Commandant and report directly to the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service.
The structure was unveiled on Monday following a review of proposals on the establishment of the unit, whose rollout had been delayed to ensure it complied with the Constitution and the command framework of the National Police Service.
State House said President Ruto directed that the new formation must preserve the constitutional command and control of the National Police Service while strengthening security coordination across the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
The President’s guidance followed concerns over the command model after officials benchmarked similar metropolitan police systems in other countries, where such units often report to city mayors. However, Kenya opted to retain oversight within the National Police Service in line with the Constitution.
During a high-level briefing at State House, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Principal Secretary for Internal Security Dr Raymond Omollo, Inspector General Douglas Kanja and members of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police technical team presented a progress report on the implementation of the unit.
According to the proposed structure, the Nairobi Metropolitan Police will operate as a specialised formation under the existing framework of Formed Units established by the Inspector General.
Kamukunji Police Station has been designated as the proposed headquarters and will host the Integrated Command and Communication Centre (IC4), which will coordinate security operations in real time. The headquarters will also house a Multi-Agency Liaison Office to improve collaboration between national and county security agencies.
The command structure will include a Deputy Commandant, Sub-Region Commanders and Sub-County Commanders, supported by metropolitan police stations, police posts and patrol bases to enhance police visibility and enable faster emergency response across the capital.
The new formation will also include specialised units responsible for diplomatic security, public safety, traffic management, investigations, enforcement, and security patrols.
The government said the unit was developed following a comprehensive assessment of Nairobi’s evolving security challenges, which highlighted the need for stronger inter-agency coordination, improved use of technology, enhanced accountability and closer engagement with communities.
