The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has pledged to support efforts to secure additional resources for the expansion and improvement of police training facilities across the country.
The committee, led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, made the commitment on Saturday during an inspection of the Magado Field Campus, operated by the Kenya Police Service (KPS), and the Lii Field Training Camp, owned by the Administration Police Service (APS), in Igembe North, Meru County.
The inspection formed part of the committee’s budget implementation oversight tours aimed at assessing the state of security infrastructure and how allocated resources are being utilised.
Other members of the committee who took part in the tour were Sotik MP Francis Sigei, Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor and Teso North MP Oku Kaunya.
The lawmakers assessed infrastructure at the two facilities and reviewed their preparedness to accommodate and train police personnel and National Police Reservists (NPRs).
Tongoyo said the committee would use Parliament’s oversight and budgetary processes to address gaps identified during the inspection.
“As a committee, we are here to see for ourselves the progress that has been made, the challenges facing this facilities and what needs to be done to make it more effective,” Tongoyo said.
He said Parliament had a responsibility to ensure security institutions were adequately resourced to discharge their constitutional mandate.
Tongoyo noted that effective policing required investment not only in personnel but also in training, accommodation, equipment and other operational facilities.
“You cannot expect our officers to perform effectively if we do not invest in their training and welfare. The committee will continue to engage the relevant security agencies and ensure that the necessary resources are provided,” he said.
The committee’s visit came as Magado Field Campus assumes a larger role in the training of National Police Reservists.
A total of 700 NPRs drawn from different counties and conservancies had reported to the facility for a one-month intensive training programme.
The centralisation of the training marks a shift from the previous arrangement, under which NPRs were largely trained within their respective home counties.
The new arrangement is expected to provide reservists with a more standardised training environment and uniform instruction before they are deployed to support security operations in their respective areas.
The committee was hosted at Magado by Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, who led the lawmakers on a tour of the facility.
The inspection followed the completion of training for the latest cohort of police recruits at the campus, highlighting the facility’s growing role as a police training centre.
Lagat also addressed the 700 NPRs who had reported for the intensive course, urging them to approach the programme with seriousness and dedication.
“You have been brought here because of the responsibility that awaits you. Take this training seriously. Use every opportunity you have here to acquire the skills and knowledge that will help you serve your communities effectively,” Lagat told the trainees.
He challenged the reservists to maintain discipline throughout the one-month programme, saying their conduct during training would form an important part of their preparation for security responsibilities.
“Training is not something you undertake simply because you have been called. It requires commitment, discipline and sacrifice. You must listen to your instructors, respect the rules and make the best use of the time you have here,” he said.
Lagat said centralising NPR training at Magado would help improve consistency in the preparation of reservists recruited from different parts of the country.
The NPR programme plays a role in enhancing security in areas facing persistent security challenges, particularly remote and hard-to-reach locations.
The reservists work alongside national security agencies and are expected to understand the local security environment while operating within the law and under the direction of relevant security authorities.
Tongoyo assured the reservists that Parliament was aware of the challenges facing security personnel operating in difficult and remote areas.
“As Parliament, we are not only concerned about the training you receive. We are also concerned about your welfare, the equipment available to you and the environment in which you will be expected to work,” he said.
The committee’s visit to Magado was preceded by an inspection of the Lii Field Training Camp, operated by the Administration Police Service in Igembe North.
The lawmakers were hosted by Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli, who briefed them on the facility and its role in preparing personnel for security operations.
Masengeli said investment in training infrastructure was critical to strengthening the capacity of the Administration Police Service and ensuring officers were adequately prepared for an increasingly complex security environment.
“Training is at the centre of an effective security service. Our officers must be equipped with the skills, discipline and knowledge necessary to respond to the challenges they encounter in the field,” Masengeli said.
He said the Lii facility, which was five months old, had an important role to play in preparing officers for deployment and strengthening operational readiness.
Masengeli welcomed the committee’s inspection, saying parliamentary oversight provided an opportunity for the government and security agencies to identify areas requiring attention and determine how best to address them.
He also emphasised the need for continued investment in infrastructure and training facilities, noting that adequate facilities would improve the quality of instruction as well as the welfare of officers undergoing training.
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