Prepare for demanding assignments - DIG Lagat challenges new GSU officers

Speaking during the course closure at the National Police College–Magadi Field Campus in Kajiado County, Lagat said the harsh conditions at the training camp were deliberately designed to prepare officers for the realities of police work.

“Magadi is not an easy place to train, and that is precisely why it is critical to police training,” Lagat said, citing the camp’s heat, rugged terrain and demanding conditions as part of the process of building physical and mental resilience.

He told the recruits that the circumstances they would encounter in active service could not always be predicted, making adaptability and readiness essential.

“You must be ready to serve where you are deployed, whenever you are called upon and whatever the circumstances,” he said.

Lagat said the training had focused on physical endurance as well as professional skills, including survival techniques, discipline, teamwork and the use of technology in modern policing.

He urged the officers to maintain discipline and professionalism once they are deployed.

“Stand firm. Stay disciplined. Be fair. Be humane. Serve with courage,” he said.

The DIG also said the additional officers would boost the National Police Service’s capacity to respond to banditry, criminal activity and other emerging security threats.

He cited ongoing security operations in the Kerio Valley, which he said had recorded an estimated 80 per cent success rate in the fight against banditry.

Lagat said the officers would also be required to support national security operations during the October-to-December rainy season and preparations for the 2027 General Election.

He said adequate police personnel would be deployed to 18 counties identified as hotspots during the anticipated El Niño rains, requiring officers to operate in diverse and challenging environments.

The DIG said the demanding environment at Magadi was intended to instil resilience and adaptability in officers who could be deployed to difficult terrain and unfamiliar surroundings.

The training camp has a long history of preparing police officers for operational duties, having been established at the site in 1981.

The recruits are scheduled to participate in their formal passing-out parade on September 18 before joining the wider National Police Service.

Lagat commended the commandant, instructors and support staff for their role in the training and urged the recruits to uphold discipline and professionalism throughout their service.