Inspector General Douglas Kanja on October 30,2026/NPS

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has warned senior police commanders that they will face consequences if they fail to tackle criminal gangs and politically motivated goons in their areas of responsibility ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Kanja said commanders must adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards criminal gangs, warning that ineffective policing in areas where politically motivated thugs operate would be treated as negligence by the officers in charge.

“My directives on criminal gangs and goons have been very clear. I have reaffirmed that individual commanders must have zero tolerance for all forms of criminal gangs and goons,” Kanja said.

“In an area where these politically motivated thugs are prevalent, and the responsible command is ineffective, the same will be treated as negligence on the part of the responsible senior officers.”

He said the failure to contain such groups would attract consequences for individual commanders, urging officers to eradicate the culture of goonism before it was too late.

Kanja made the remarks on Friday, October 30, 2026, during the Senior Commanders Election Security Preparedness Conference at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong.

He said police commanders must prioritise intelligence-led crackdowns on criminal gangs rather than wait for incidents to occur before responding.

“You must do what it takes to eradicate the culture of goonism before it is too late. You can do this by using intelligence-led crackdowns on the criminals, instead of being reactive,” he said.

The Inspector-General said the National Police Service had already witnessed emerging security threats, political rhetoric and ethnic incitement as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, which is about ten months away.

He said strengthening security infrastructure was essential to guaranteeing an environment in which Kenyans could exercise their democratic rights and civic obligations during the elections.

Kanja urged regional, formations and county commanders to continuously map security hotspots and sustain operations against criminal gangs, illicit alcohol and drugs, which he identified as potential triggers for violence.

He said success in addressing these threats would contribute to peaceful and secure elections.

The police chief said officers had been taken through the Election Preparedness Work Plan and the General Election Preparedness Matrix to guide security planning in the months leading up to the polls.

He added that election preparedness would be implemented in three phases: before, during and after voting.

Kanja called on commanders to ensure that police officers understood their responsibilities and worked with other agencies to secure a peaceful, secure and inclusive 2027 General Election.

Police urged to strengthen crowd control

The Inspector-General also directed commanders to prioritise training on public order management and anti-riot drills as part of preparations for election-related security operations.

He said regular training would help minimise injuries among police officers, reduce instances of excessive force and address complaints against officers.

“Commanders have to ensure that there is continuous training on Public Order Management and anti-riot drills,” Kanja said.

He described the protocols as important safeguards for officers and the public, adding that timely training would help protect junior officers during security operations.

Kanja also called on regional, formations and county commanders to engage the media when necessary to explain security incidents, provide factual information and address public concerns.

He said timely communication by police would help prevent speculation and preserve public trust in the service.

“Why be quite and allow misinformation, when you have the benefit of all the facts?” he posed.

He further warned that media harassment within police commands would not be tolerated, urging officers to maintain constructive relations with journalists.

Police told to remain politically neutral

Kanja reminded officers that the National Police Service must remain apolitical and accountable throughout the election period.

He said commanders were responsible for ensuring that officers remained under control, operations were responsibly managed and political neutrality was maintained.

“The National Police Service must remain apolitical and accountable at all times,” he said.

He urged officers to serve all Kenyans equally and uphold patriotism, the rule of law and professional standards.

The Inspector-General also raised concerns over the number of fatal traffic accidents reported along major highways in recent weeks.

He called on commanders to intensify public awareness campaigns, vehicle inspections and enforcement of traffic laws, particularly as the festive season approaches.

Kanja said the Deputy Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service had submitted proposals to address accidents at specific locations, which had been escalated for consideration at other levels.

In his closing remarks, Kanja emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Kenya Police Service, the Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

He said the effectiveness of the National Police Service would depend on the three departments sharing intelligence and conducting joint operations rather than working in isolation.

Kanja urged commanders to implement the resolutions of the conference and ensure that security preparations translated into effective action on the ground ahead of the 2027 polls.