Friday 28th August, 2026 10:21 AM|
The United States is stepping up its security partnership with Kenya with a major investment in police training, infrastructure and equipment aimed at preparing officers for increasingly sophisticated threats.
The initiative, centred on the National Police College in Kiganjo, is expected to transform how Kenyan police officers are trained while strengthening the wider criminal justice system.
Speaking during the project launch at the training unit in Nyeri County on Friday, August 28, 2026, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Susan M. Burns said the partnership comes at a time when Kenya faces a changing security landscape, including terrorism, human and wildlife trafficking and the growing need to make communities safer.
“Modern, professional, and efficient in an era marked by complex law enforcement and security challenges, from the threats of terrorism and human and wildlife trafficking to the essential requirement of providing safe neighbourhoods for children to thrive,” Burns said.
What the US is bringing to Kiganjo
The project will target three critical areas: police training, infrastructure and modern equipment.
Burns said the United States will support knowledge development, strengthen the capacity of police instructors and introduce talent management into police training.
The Kiganjo facilities will also undergo refurbishment, with the library, shooting range and physical training infrastructure among the facilities targeted for improvement.
The goal is to give trainees access to better classrooms and field-training facilities while equipping them with practical skills needed to confront modern security threats.
The US will also provide modern equipment for police trainees, a move expected to improve their preparedness and effectiveness once deployed.
Beyond police officers
The project is also designed to have an impact beyond Kiganjo.
Burns said selected criminal justice institutions and academies will benefit through the sharing of curricula, training practices and knowledge developed through the programme.
This could create a wider network of institutions operating with improved training standards and professional practices.
The United States is implementing the initiative in collaboration with the National Police Service and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Why Washington is investing in Kenya’s security
The project comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s strategic position in East Africa and its role in regional security operations and counterterrorism efforts.
For Washington, strengthening Kenya’s security institutions also serves broader economic and diplomatic interests.
Burns linked security directly to development, democratic stability and opportunities for young people.
“Security really enables economic development. It protects democratic institutions and allows our young people to dream big and reach beyond,” she said.
She further described Kenya and the US as security partners and “equal stakeholders in a shared future”, signalling that Washington sees the relationship as extending beyond traditional security assistance.
A new test for policing
The Kiganjo investment could ultimately become a test of whether better training, facilities and equipment can translate into improved policing on the ground.
For Kenyan citizens, the measure of success will not only be modern buildings or new equipment but whether officers become more professional, effective and responsive while earning greater public trust.
Burns said the United States remains committed to building a long-term relationship with Kenya based on mutual interests and shared goals.
“When Kenya is more secure, so are we,” she said.
