Transformation of police training from a Nairobi depot

A traffic police officer controls traffic in Kisii town on June 19, 2021. (Sammy Omingo, Standard)

The police service has over the years undergone transformational milestone, key among them change of uniform.

There were mixed reactions when the Persian blue uniform was unveiled. Some bashed the colour choice, while others welcomed the new outfit that replaced the common navy blue uniform.

The architects of the new attire said it was more friendly and more visible. On visibility, they got it right; it is easy to spot officers from afar. Their presence is a big plus to efforts to maintain law and order, as it is a deterrent.

The shift in dress code came with the renaming of all police institutions. The Kenya Police College in Kiganjo was renamed National Police College, Kiganjo Campus, to train general duty police officers, who conduct beat patrols.

The college started as a depot in Nairobi in 1911 to shed off the military training officers received. Captain WFS Edwards observed that military element had been promoted at the expense of police training, necessitating police training.

It would later be moved to Kiganjo, its present-day address. In the picture of 1957, white instructors are conducting a parade mounted by African recruits clad in khaki shorts.

Lower ranks

The colonial force was mainly made up of British and Indian recruits, who were senior officers, while Africans settled for lower ranks. But after independence, Britons and Indians were gradually replaced by Kenyans, who have steered the force into a service.

It became National Police Service in 2011. Since then it has undergone a series of reforms that have nevertheless had no significant impact on the image and operation of the service.

Apart from Kiganjo, other institutions are Administration Police Training College, which was renamed National Police College Embakasi A Campus for training Rapid Deployment Unit, Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, Anti Stock Theft Unit and Border Patrol Unit recruits.

The GSU Training School was rebranded as National Police College Embakasi B Campus for training GSU recruits. Senior Staff College Loresho became National Police Service Senior Staff College Loresho Campus.

GSU Training School in Magadi was renamed the National Police Service College, Magadi Field Campus, for tactical GSU training, while the National Police Service Border Police Training School was renamed Border Police Training Campus, for tactical training of officers from specialised units.