Kanja explains step by step on how to open a police station
By Ascah Mwango, March 12, 2025Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has given the correct procedure for establishing a police station following a viral incident involving a civilian who facilitated the setup of a police patrol base in Ndugulu location, Uasin Gishu County.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Kanja emphasized that there is a formal procedure that must be followed before a police station can be set up. He explained that the process begins with public participation, where residents of an area express their need for a police station. Local leaders are also required to assess whether the establishment of such a facility is necessary.
Once the need for a police station is established at the local level, the matter is taken to the Sub-County Security Committee. This committee is led by the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) and includes senior police officers, representatives from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and other relevant security agencies. Their role is to assess whether the request is justified based on the security needs of the area.
If the committee finds that a police station is necessary, a recommendation is forwarded to the Inspector General in Nairobi. The final decision is then made based on legal guidelines and national security policies.
Kanja noted that bypassing this procedure, as seen in the Ndugulu incident, was a mistake. He stressed that while community involvement in security matters is encouraged, setting up a police station without following due process is not permissible.
“There is a procedure that must be followed. There is public participation, where the residents of the area express their need for a police station, and the local leadership also states whether a station is necessary. This discussion is then taken to the Sub-County Security Committee, which is led by the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), the senior police officers of the area, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and other relevant security agencies. They assess whether the residents genuinely need a police station. That recommendation is then forwarded to the Inspector General in Nairobi, who decides, based on the law, whether the station is necessary,” the police boss explained.
Kanja reiterated that if residents genuinely need a police station in their area, they should follow the proper channels to ensure its establishment is legal and well-coordinated with the authorities.
“Therefore, it was a mistake to establish a station without following this procedure. If the residents of that area want a police station, the proper procedure must be followed,” Kanja added.
The newly established police patrol base in Ndugulu went viral on Sunday, March 9, 2025, after videos and photos were shared online.