MPs Pledge Support for Expansion of Police Training Facilities Across Kenya

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security pledged to support the expansion and enhancement of police training facilities nationwide. Led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, the committee made the commitment during an inspection of the Magado Field Campus and Lii Field Training Camp in Igembe North, Meru County.

The inspection was part of the committee's budget implementation oversight tours, which aim to assess the state of security infrastructure and the utilization of allocated resources.

The lawmakers examined the infrastructure at both facilities and evaluated their preparedness to train police personnel and National Police Reservists (NPRs). Tongoyo emphasized that the committee would use Parliament's oversight and budgetary processes to address identified gaps. He stated that Parliament had a responsibility to ensure security institutions were adequately resourced to carry out their constitutional mandate.

The committee's visit is timely as Magado Field Campus assumes a larger role in training National Police Reservists. A total of 700 NPRs from various counties and conservancies have reported to the facility for a one-month intensive training program. This shift from the previous arrangement, where NPRs were trained within their respective home counties, aims to provide reservists with a more standardized training environment.

Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, who hosted the committee at Magado, urged the reservists to approach the programme with seriousness and dedication. He warned them to take the training seriously, as their conduct would form an essential part of their preparation for security responsibilities. Lagat highlighted the importance of centralizing NPR training at Magado to improve consistency in the preparation of reservists from different parts of the country.

The committee earlier inspected the Lii Field Training Camp, operated by the Administration Police Service. Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli briefed the lawmakers on the facility and its role in preparing personnel for security operations. Masengeli emphasized the critical importance of investing in training infrastructure to strengthen the capacity of the Administration Police Service and ensure officers are adequately prepared for the complexities of the security environment.