President William Ruto has directed that all chiefs and assistant chiefs undergo mandatory training within their first six months on the job to enhance government efficiency and improve security operations.

Ruto issued the directive during the graduation ceremony of 5,892 chiefs and assistant chiefs at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus in Nairobi on Monday, where he noted that the government will continue the mandatory training, whose first cohort graduated. 

“My instruction to the Interior Ministry is that every officer, chief, their assistant, and all below them should be trained within six months of being hired. Many of the officers here initially served for more than 10 months without any training,” Ruto said.

The chiefs and their assistants completed training in induction, paralegal, and security management in a ceremony graced by the top leadership command of the National Police Service (NPS), the Interior Ministry, and the Head of State.

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Meanwhile, at the same event, the President directed that chiefs and their assistants should fully support the implementation of government policies passed by both the national and county governments. “This should cover all projects as long as they are for the benefit of the people of Kenya,” he noted.

The President’s directives come weeks after a major police recruitment exercise, pointing to the government’s focus on strengthening security institutions and ensuring that newly appointed officers are adequately prepared for their roles.

Ruto also directed that chiefs be fully involved in government infrastructure projects, including road construction and affordable housing initiatives, ensuring that residents are employed for hands-on work at the sites.

The Head of State also instructed the administrative officers to onboard their services on the digitised public services platform to enhance efficiency and transparency. 

According to Ruto, at the moment, over 27,000 services have already been integrated into digital platforms, with further expansion underway, including universal connectivity and the rollout of Jitume Labs in all wards.

He further urged Chiefs to fully adopt these digital systems, ensure accurate reporting, and support citizens in accessing the services available online.

Speaking at the same event, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced a nationwide crackdown on political goons, following a wave of disturbance that disrupted by-elections across different regions on Thursday, November 27, 2022.

The CS revealed that together with the IG, the government will hunt down the culprits and ensure that they are brought to justice to prevent a spillover to the 2027 General Elections.