US opens multi-million grant for Kenya Police riot response training

The United States has opened a funding programme worth up to $1.6 million (about Ksh207 million) to support specialised training for Kenyan security officers in crowd control and less-than-lethal riot response, as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on July 21, 2026, inviting qualified organisations to apply for grants to implement the training programme.

According to the notice, the funding opportunity, titled “Kenya: Crowd Control and Less-Than-Lethal Riot Response Training,” will provide awards ranging from $500,000 (about Ksh65 million) to $1.6 million (about Ksh207 million). Applications close on September 10, 2026.

The notice states that the programme aims to “strengthen Kenyan police command and control during critical incidents.” Successful applicants will deliver specialist training on crowd management, public order policing and less-than-lethal response techniques under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. government.

The U.S. Embassy said eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and for-profit organisations with the capacity to deliver the programme.

Interested organisations have been directed to obtain the full application package through the MyGrants platform or by contacting the Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Focus on professional policing

Although the funding notice does not mention Kenya’s 2027 General Election directly, it comes as concerns continue to grow over how security agencies manage public demonstrations following several deadly protests in recent years.

The official description of the programme is brief but clear.

“Strengthen Kenyan police command and control during critical incidents,” the U.S. Embassy states in the funding notice.

The focus on less-than-lethal tactics reflects long-standing cooperation between Kenya and the United States in strengthening policing standards, improving crisis response and promoting human rights-compliant public order management.

Over the years, the U.S. Department of State has funded several programmes in Kenya through INL to improve community policing, accountability, crisis management and law enforcement capacity while encouraging the use of force that complies with international standards.

Programme comes amid protest concerns

The latest funding opportunity follows a period of sustained protests across Kenya.

Since 2024, the country has experienced nationwide demonstrations over the high cost of living, tax measures, governance issues and opposition to government policies. Some of the protests turned violent, leading to deaths, injuries and destruction of property.

A joint report by Amnesty International Kenya and Odipodev identified Nairobi as the country’s leading protest hotspot, recording 289 protests between 2020 and 2025. The report also documented 138 protest-related deaths nationwide during the same period.

The report found that many demonstrations were triggered by major national events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, elections, rising cases of femicide and controversial budget proposals.

Other counties frequently affected by protests included Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Kisii and Machakos.

Security experts have also expressed concern over the growing use of organised groups during political activities.

Those concerns resurfaced during the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where claims emerged that organised groups had been mobilised during campaigns, reigniting debate over political violence and public security ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wider U.S.-Kenya security partnership

The crowd control training programme forms part of broader security cooperation between Kenya and the United States.

Beyond public order policing, the U.S. Department of State has supported programmes targeting transnational organised crime, border security, counterterrorism and law enforcement capacity building.

Earlier in 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Counterterrorism announced a separate $5.9 million programme aimed at strengthening security along the Kenya-Somalia border, including tactical training, surveillance capabilities, night operations and explosive ordnance disposal for specialised police units.

The latest INL programme, however, focuses specifically on improving police preparedness during public demonstrations and other critical incidents through professional training rather than operational deployment.

Organisations selected under the grant will be responsible for designing and delivering the training programme for Kenyan security officers, with the U.S. government providing funding and oversight through the cooperative agreement.

The application window remains open until September 10, 2026, after which the U.S. Embassy will evaluate proposals submitted by eligible organisations.