The National Police Service has outlined a raft of measures it plans to implement to ensure security, neutrality and professionalism during the 2027 General Election.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the service was committed to working with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other stakeholders to deliver a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process.
Kanja was speaking during a high-level National Election Security Roundtable Consultative Forum convened by the IEBC in Nairobi, where security agencies and other stakeholders discussed preparations for the 2027 polls.
“The National Police Service reaffirms its commitment to neutrality, professionalism and readiness to securing a peaceful 2027 General Election,” Kanja said.
He said the police would work in partnership with the IEBC and other stakeholders before, during and after the elections to ensure that the electoral process is secure and orderly.
The NPS has identified five key priorities for the 2027 election security preparations: cooperation with the IEBC, inter-agency collaboration, command coordination, public order and human rights, and strategic communication.
Under cooperation with the electoral commission, the police have committed to full compliance with Section 105 of the Elections Act.
The service also plans to strengthen collaboration with security agencies, constitutional commissions and police oversight institutions as part of preparations for the polls.
A key feature of the security preparations will be a whole-of-government coordination model built around a four-level command architecture.
At the national level, multi-agency coordination will be anchored at the NPS headquarters through an IC3 Command and Communication Centre. The structure is intended to provide strategic oversight, coordination and communication across the country during election operations.
At the regional level, Regional Commanders will work through Regional Security Committees and Regional Joint Operations Centres to coordinate security operations and respond to emerging threats within their jurisdictions.
At the county level, County Commanders will oversee security operations through County Security Committees and County Operations Rooms, providing a link between regional command and operations on the ground.
At the sub-county level, County Committees, designated National Government Administration Officers and police stations will form part of the local coordination structure, ensuring that security information and operational decisions reach communities and polling areas.
On command coordination, the NPS says the architecture will ensure that election security operations are managed through clearly defined structures at national, regional, county and sub-county levels.
The police have also placed public order and human rights among their priorities, with a commitment to comply with human rights standards in public order management.
Strategic communication is another key area, with the service planning proactive engagement with stakeholders and communities during the electoral period.
The strategic framework assigns the NPS several core functions throughout the electoral process.
These include protection of life and property and prevention of electoral offences.
The NPS objectives include maintaining law and order during electoral operations and deploying adequate security personnel to polling stations, tallying centres and IEBC infrastructure.
The service will also provide protection to IEBC personnel and VIPs, while ensuring that its officers are aligned with Section 105 of the Elections Act.
Kanja said the police would also focus on investigating election offences and upholding accountability and professional standards among officers.
The security framework is anchored on four guiding principles: neutrality and non-interference, equal treatment and non-discrimination, accountability and the rule of law.
The NPS says officers should not engage in politics or give preferential treatment to any party or candidate.
“Every participant throughout the electoral process must receive equal protection,” the service’s framework states.
It also requires officers to remain accountable for their actions and respect human rights, while ensuring that all operations are conducted strictly in accordance with the law.
The multi-level command system is expected to facilitate faster sharing of intelligence, coordinated deployment of officers and a unified response to incidents that could threaten electoral activities.
The preparations come as Kenya moves towards the August 2027 General Election, with the security agencies expected to play a critical role in maintaining peace and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
Kanja said the NPS would remain committed to ensuring that Kenyans exercise their democratic rights in a safe and peaceful environment.
“Our commitment is to ensure a secure, peaceful, credible and lawful electoral process before, during and after the 2027 General Election,” he said