Efforts to modernize and strengthen police preparedness have taken a new turn, with various units initiating a nationwide upgrade of field training for both specialized and general duty officers.

This fresh momentum was highlighted during a high-level tour of a newly identified training site in Igembe North, Meru County.

Senior officers led by Principal Deputy to the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service (APS), Dr. Masoud Mwinyi, inspected the facility on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

According to a statement released by APS, the team assessed the location’s suitability for practical training, citing its rugged, forested, and hilly terrain as ideal for immersive tactical drills.

The area is expected to serve as a hub for intensive exercises in fieldcraft, jungle warfare simulations, survival and evasion tactics, resistance training, and leadership development.

Dr. Mwinyi noted that leveraging Kenya’s diverse terrain would help officers train in realistic environments, aligning with current efforts to reform APS training systems.

These reforms are being spearheaded by Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, under whose leadership the service is shifting towards more context-based and skills-driven instruction.

"The natural topography of this site offers an excellent platform for dynamic training. This will not only improve the physical endurance of officers but also sharpen their strategic capabilities for field operations,” Mwinyi said during the tour.

The visit and assessment come just days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced plans to revamp police training across the country. While addressing regional security officers in Lodwar on July 16, Murkomen acknowledged longstanding gaps in professional development for police officers once they complete their basic training at Kiganjo Police College.

“After graduation, most of our police officers receive no additional training, unlike their counterparts in the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO),” Murkomen remarked.

He revealed that a structured, continuous training programme will be rolled out starting this year to ensure officers from station commanders to those on frontline duties acquire modern policing competencies.

The CS said the proposed modules would incorporate digital skills, conflict resolution, negotiation, proper use of force, and diplomatic communication capabilities critical for handling today’s complex security landscape.

The ongoing review of police training frameworks is part of broader reforms aimed at professionalizing the service, enhancing accountability, and ensuring law enforcement officers are better equipped to respond to evolving national and regional threats.