1,837 Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs Graduate in Landmark Government Training Drive

 

President William Ruto on Monday presided over the graduation of 1,837 Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs at the National Police College, Embakasi ‘A’ Campus in Nairobi, marking a significant step in the professionalisation of Kenya’s grassroots administration.

The cohort — the third under the ongoing government capacity-building programme — brings to 5,892 the total number of administrators trained across the country. The officers underwent induction, paralegal and security management courses aimed at strengthening their effectiveness in public service delivery.

President Ruto lauded the milestone, noting that for years National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) have served without a structured professional training framework despite their central role in governance, dispute resolution, security coordination, public order management and national cohesion.

“The last formal training of NGAOs was undertaken in 2016. The absence of continuous professional development has compromised administrative efficiency at the grassroots,” the President said. “We are committed to reforming and professionalising public administration to make it more efficient and citizen-focused.”

He commended chiefs and assistant chiefs for their dedication, especially in advancing national programmes, including the government’s digitised farmer registry, which he said had already enrolled more than seven million farmers nationwide.

The decision to renew structured training followed extensive nationwide consultations under the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative, which brought together NGAOs, security agencies and members of the public.

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who also addressed the ceremony, said insights from the consultative forums informed reforms targeting improved accountability, restored morale and enhanced service delivery.

“This graduation ceremony stands as a strong affirmation of the Government’s deliberate and ongoing agenda to modernise, reposition and strengthen Kenya’s administrative framework,” Murkomen said.

He added that empowered NGAOs will play a pivotal role in implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), facilitating development and strengthening the link between citizens and government.

“Our chiefs are not just administrators; they are multipurpose officers who connect policy to people, solve community challenges and safeguard unity at the grassroots,” he said.

The graduation forms part of a broader reform package recommended in the Jukwaa La Usalama report, which is scheduled for launch on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi.