STRENGTHENING SECURITY PARTNERSHIP: IG KANJA HOSTS ITALY'S MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR

The Inspector General of the National Police Service, Mr. Douglas Kanja, on, 2 July 2026, hosted Italy's Minister for the Interior, His Excellency the Hon. Matteo Piantedosi, and his delegation at the National Police Service Headquarters, Jogoo House 'A'. The Minister's visit built on the momentum created by the signing of a Letter of Intent on Security Cooperation between Kenya and Italy, led by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, the Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, signalling a renewed commitment to advancing bilateral police and security collaboration.

In his remarks, Minister Piantedosi expressed the need for coordinated action against transnational organized crime by disrupting its financial networks, particularly those linked to drug trafficking, through strengthened cooperation with INTERPOL and other international policing frameworks. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing investigations into financial and economic crimes, including tracing illicit financial flows and recovering illegally acquired assets.

He further underscored the need for closer collaboration in addressing migrant smuggling and human trafficking, describing the International Training and Education Programme for Africa (ITEPA) as an important platform for strengthening the operational capacity of African police services. Acknowledging Kenya's sustained efforts in combating terrorism, the Minister reaffirmed Italy's commitment to supporting the country's counter-terrorism initiatives through continued training, operational partnerships, and capacity-building.

For his part, Inspector General Kanja expressed appreciation for Italy's longstanding support to the National Police Service, particularly in specialized training programmes that have strengthened officers' capacity in areas critical to national security. He also welcomed Italy's support in advancing technology-driven policing, noting that the integration of the Integrated Command, Control, Communication and Coordination (IC4) System will significantly enhance the Service's ability to detect, predict, and respond to crime in real time.

The Inspector General also sought Italy's continued support for the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, a specialized formation that will strengthen security, maintain public order, and enhance safety within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Looking ahead, IG Kanja called for expanded collaboration in officer training, joint operations, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building to address evolving security challenges and advance the National Police Service's agenda of ensuring that all police service points remain centres of excellence.

He reaffirmed the National Police Service's commitment to delivering quality policing through professionalism, integrity, and community engagement, and concluded by expressing gratitude, on behalf of the Service, for the visit and Italy's continued partnership. IG Kanja was accompanied by the Secretary Administration/Accounting Officer, Ms. Bernice Lemedeket; Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service (DIG-KPS), Mr. Eliud Lagat; Deputy Inspector General, Administration Police Service (DIG-APS), Mr. Gilbert Masengeli; and the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr. Mohamed I. Amin.

Also present were the Principal Assistant to the Inspector General (PAIG-NPS), Mr. Mathew Kutoh, SAIG; NPS Director of Reforms, Mr. John Kamau, AIG; Director ATPU, Mr. Said Kiprotich, AIG; Director of Corporate Communication/NPS Spokesperson, Mr. Muchiri Nyaga, AIG; NPS Director of Administration, Planning and Finance (DAPF), Mr. Richard Lesasuiyan, AIG; Director of Training, Mr. Ali Hassan Aljir, AIG; NPS Deputy Director Legal, Mr. Charles Otiende, CP; and other senior officers.