How Kenya’s National Police Service Is Structured — 2025 Update

Top command. The National Police Service (NPS) is led by Inspector-General (IG) Douglas Kanja. He has overall command, policy direction, discipline and accountability across the Service. 

Deputy Inspectors-General.

• Administration Police Service (APS): Led by DIG Gilbert Masengeli. APS secures critical government infrastructure, supports border security and supplies specialised formations. 

• Kenya Police Service (KPS): DIG Eliud Lagat stepped aside on June 16, 2025 pending investigations into the death of Albert Ojwang. During this period, duties have been performed in acting capacity by Principal Assistant Patrick Tito, per contemporaneous reporting. (Courts and oversight bodies have since issued varying rulings; the position remains under public/legal scrutiny.) 

APS specialised units. Under DIG Masengeli, APS runs key formations that handle rapid response, borders, livestock theft, and infrastructure protection:

• Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU)

• Border Police Unit (BPU)

• Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU)

• Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU)

• Security of Government Buildings (SGB)

  These are confirmed by APS and recent NPS coverage. 

KPS field command. KPS operates through regional, county and sub-county commanders, with Officers Commanding Police Divisions/Stations (OCPDs/OCPSs) directing day-to-day policing, traffic, and community safety. (The KPS sits within the NPS under the IG, with its own DIG.) 

Investigations arm (DCI). The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is led by Director Mohamed I. Amin. The DCI oversees national investigations and specialised units (e.g., homicide/serious crimes, transnational organised crime, economic & commercial crimes, cybercrime/forensics) and works with regional and county investigation officers. 

Why the hierarchy matters

• Clear lines of command: IG → DIGs (APS/KPS) → regional/county/sub-county → stations/posts. This enables coordinated operations and accountability across general duty policing, specialised responses, and investigations. 

• Specialisation at scale: APS formations (RDU, BPU, ASTU, CIPU, SGB) give the Service surge capacity for emergencies, border incidents, stock-theft corridors and protection of vital installations. 

• Separation of policing and investigations: DCI’s national remit and specialist labs complement KPS/APS operations, improving evidence handling and case quality. 

Notes on leadership status (KPS)

• Eliud Lagat: stepped aside June 16, 2025; multiple reputable outlets reported Patrick Tito assumed acting duties. Subsequent court/oversight steps have created some ambiguity, but as of today there is no official NPSC notice publicly reinstating or replacing him permanently. We’ll keep this flagged for updates.