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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has embarked on a high-level security benchmarking visit in New York as Kenya moves closer to establishing a specialised metropolitan policing unit for Nairobi and its surrounding areas.
Murkomen arrived in New York City on Tuesday accompanied by senior security officials on a study mission aimed at learning from the New York Police Department (NYPD), one of the world’s most established urban policing agencies.
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The visit forms part of a wider international benchmarking programme that will also take Kenyan officials to Rome, London and Tokyo as preparations continue for the rollout of the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit (NMPU).
The planned unit is expected to enhance security, maintain public order, and respond to evolving urban crime challenges in Nairobi, a rapidly expanding metropolitan hub in Africa.
Murkomen said the NYPD offers valuable lessons in intelligence-led policing, community engagement, technology use, specialised urban operations, emergency response coordination and crime prevention strategies.
The initiative follows President William Ruto’s directive issued in February to establish the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to address insecurity and safeguard the city’s economic activity.
The NYPD, which has more than 35,000 officers, is the largest municipal police service in the United States and is widely regarded as a benchmark for effective city policing.
Murkomen said the delegation is studying global best practices to help shape a modern and efficient policing structure for Nairobi.
During the visit, Murkomen held discussions with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya Police Service and the NYPD to support the development of the new unit.
He was accompanied by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, and other senior officials involved in the project. Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States, David Kerich, also attended the meetings.
Kenya has also engaged security experts and city administrators from major global cities, including New York, London and Rome, as part of consultations on the proposed policing framework.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit is expected to prioritise smart policing, increased visibility of officers, and the use of body-worn cameras. It is scheduled to become operational in July, although Governor Sakaja has noted that the timeline may be difficult to meet.
The proposal has also sparked constitutional discussions, as policing is currently a national government function under Kenyan law.
Despite the challenges, Murkomen expressed optimism, saying the technical team is working towards establishing a more responsive, people-centred command structure.
He added that the unit will improve coordination among security agencies, strengthen response to emerging threats, and enhance cooperation between police and the public.
The initiative is part of a broader national and county government collaboration aimed at improving safety and security in Nairobi and its satellite towns for residents, investors and visitors alike.
