Murkomen, Sakaja seek UK expertise in plan to establish Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, accompanied by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli and other senior security officials, met UK Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Shabana Mahmood, Minister of State for Policing and Crime Sarah Jones, and the leadership of the City of London Police in London.

The discussions focused on the proposed Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit and how Kenya can leverage British expertise in metropolitan policing to enhance security management in the capital.

According to Sakaja, the talks explored opportunities for collaboration in building a modern and effective policing framework tailored to Nairobi's growing urban challenges.

“We explored collaboration in the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, drawing on the experience of the UK’s policing institutions in urban policing, public safety and crime prevention,” Sakaja said.

The governor noted that the proposed unit is intended to strengthen public safety, improve crime prevention efforts and enhance security coordination across Nairobi as the city continues to expand.

Murkomen said the discussions underscored the long-standing partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom in security, governance and law enforcement.

“We explored cooperation in the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit as we seek to leverage the UK’s institutional experience and decades of operational excellence,” Murkomen said.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary added that the talks also covered broader issues under the Kenya–UK Strategic Partnership Framework and the two countries’ security cooperation compact.

The London engagement marks the latest phase of the government's efforts to benchmark global best practices as it lays the groundwork for the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.

The visit comes a day after Sakaja and Murkomen travelled to New York City alongside senior security officials on a study mission aimed at learning from the New York Police Department (NYPD), widely regarded as one of the world's leading urban policing agencies.

The international benchmarking exercise will also take the Kenyan delegation to Rome, London and Tokyo as authorities finalize plans for the NMPU.

Once established, the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit is expected to play a central role in strengthening security, maintaining public order and responding to emerging criminal threats in Nairobi, one of Africa's fastest-growing metropolitan centres