Administration Police
The Administration Police Service (APS) is a branch of the National Police Service in Kenya, tasked with fostering national security through internal policing, border protection, and support to government functions in administrative and rural areas.[1][2] Established by Article 243 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and governed by the National Police Service Act No. 11A of 2011, the APS assists the public in emergencies, maintains law and order, preserves peace, protects life and property, conducts border patrols, prevents stock theft, safeguards government installations and strategic points, and coordinates with agencies on conflict management, peace-building, and counter-terrorism efforts.[1][3] The service apprehends offenders, enforces administrative policies, and executes duties assigned by the Inspector-General or law, operating as a paramilitary force with specialized units such as the Rapid Deployment Unit for direct action in high-threat scenarios and the Border Police Unit for frontier security.[1][4][5] Headed by a Deputy Inspector General, the APS maintains a rank structure from constable to senior command levels, emphasizing rapid response, community policing, and integration with national security operations.[6][1] Originating from colonial-era tribal police formations in the mid-20th century and restructured post-independence into a national entity by 1958, the service has evolved to address modern challenges including ethnic conflicts and terrorism, though it has encountered scrutiny over operational conduct in volatile regions. Key defining characteristics include its focus on preventive security in underserved areas and collaboration with the Kenya Police Service under unified command.[7][8]Introduction
Mandate and Role
The Administration Police Service (APS) forms one of the two primary branches of Kenya's National Police Service, alongside the Kenya Police Service, as established by Article 243 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and governed by Part IV of the National Police Service Act No. 11A of 2011.[1] Its core mandate centers on supporting administrative policing functions, with an emphasis on rural and border areas, protection of government assets, and specialized security operations that complement the investigative and urban-focused role of the Kenya Police Service.[3] Unlike the broader crime detection duties of the Kenya Police Service under Section 24 of the Act, the APS prioritizes preventive and protective measures, including border patrol and conflict mitigation, to maintain national stability and enforce administrative orders.[1] Section 27 of the National Police Service Act delineates the specific functions of the APS, which include providing assistance to members of the public when in need; maintaining law and order; preserving peace; and protecting life and property.[3] Additional responsibilities encompass offering border patrol and security services; specialized prevention of stock theft, particularly in pastoralist regions; and safeguarding government property, vital installations, and strategic points as directed by the Inspector-General of Police.[1] The service also supports other government agencies in executing administrative functions and lawful duties; coordinates with relevant entities on conflict management and peace-building initiatives; apprehends offenders; and undertakes any other duties assigned by the Inspector-General or prescribed under written law.[3] In operational terms, the APS coordinates national security efforts, including counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency activities, restoration of public order, and border security to curb cross-border crime.[9] It manages field commands for high-level security, implements community policing and peace-building programs, provides early warning and intervention for conflicts, conducts crime and conflict mapping analysis, and responds to disasters and emergencies.[9] These roles position the APS as a paramilitary force geared toward proactive security in underserved areas, with deployments often in rural districts, national reserves, and along Kenya's 4,000-plus kilometers of international borders.[1] The service operates under the Deputy Inspector-General for Administration Police, who oversees strategy, budgeting, training, and inter-agency cooperation to ensure alignment with national security objectives.[3]Legal Basis and Oversight
The Administration Police Service (APS) is established as a constituent service of the National Police Service under Article 243(2)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which mandates the NPS to function nationally in promoting security and public order.[10] Article 244 delineates the core objects of the NPS, including the APS, such as preventing and detecting crime, protecting life and property, and cooperating with communities and other authorities to maintain safety, while emphasizing professionalism, human rights compliance, and accountability.[10] These constitutional provisions are operationalized through the National Police Service Act, No. 11A of 2011, whose Part IV specifically governs the APS's structure, powers (including arrest, search, and use of force under regulated conditions), and functions, such as providing security for government facilities, VIP protection, and border patrol support.[3] Command authority over the APS resides with the Inspector-General of the National Police Service, appointed under Article 245 of the Constitution, who directs operational deployment and policy implementation across both the Kenya Police Service and APS.[10] Administrative oversight, encompassing recruitment, training, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary proceedings short of dismissal, is vested in the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), as per Article 246(2) and the National Police Service Commission Act, No. 30 of 2011, ensuring merit-based management independent of operational command.[11] External accountability is enforced by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), established under the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, No. 35 of 2011, which conducts independent investigations into police misconduct, including deaths or serious injuries attributable to APS actions, monitors operations, and recommends prosecutions or reforms to promote transparency and deter abuses.[12] The IPOA's mandate extends to receiving public complaints against the APS and auditing use-of-force incidents, complementing internal mechanisms like the NPS's Internal Affairs Unit, though critiques from human rights monitors highlight occasional delays in IPOA investigations due to resource constraints and inter-agency coordination challenges.[13]History
Colonial Foundations
The British colonial administration in Kenya established precursor forces to the Administration Police to maintain order in rural native reserves, supplementing the urban-oriented Kenya Police Force formed in 1907. These early units, often referred to as Tribal or Native Police, emerged from ordinances aimed at subduing local populations and enforcing administrative control beyond settler areas.[14][15] A key legislative foundation was the 1902 ordinance, which sought to integrate tribal territories into colonial governance by authorizing the recruitment of local auxiliaries under district officers. These forces, numbering in the low hundreds initially, were tasked with tax collection—including hut and poll taxes—preventing cattle raiding, and quelling minor resistances, often through coercive measures like forced labor enforcement. Recruits were drawn from compliant ethnic groups, minimally trained, and issued basic arms, reflecting their role as extensions of chiefly authority rather than independent law enforcers.[14][16] By the interwar period, these units had expanded to support broader colonial extraction, including guarding administrative bomas and facilitating kipande (pass) system compliance to control African mobility. Their paramilitary character intensified during the Mau Mau emergency (1952–1960), with forces swelling from approximately 1,500 in 1948 to over 10,000 by the mid-1950s amid fears of rebellion.[16][17] The Administration Police was formally constituted in 1958 via parliamentary act, rebranding and professionalizing the Tribal Police with standardized uniforms, pay scales, and training at facilities like the Depot in Nairobi, just five years before independence. This late-colonial restructuring aimed to legitimize their role in counterinsurgency while embedding loyalty to the administration, though their operations remained geared toward regime security over impartial policing.[18][19]Post-Independence Development
Upon attaining independence on December 12, 1963, the Administration Police underwent Africanization, with expatriate officers progressively replaced by Kenyan nationals in senior ranks to localize command structures.[20] Concurrently, the force was transferred from the Ministry of Native Affairs to the Office of the Prime Minister, which evolved into the Office of the President, thereby integrating it more closely with executive authority and central governance.[20] The functions of the Administration Police expanded post-independence to encompass broader national security responsibilities beyond colonial-era tribal policing, including support for provincial administration in rural areas prone to banditry and cattle rustling.[21] This shift emphasized community-oriented operations, with the force maintaining order under district officers and chiefs while addressing internal threats such as stock theft in northern rangelands.[21] Organizational developments included the introduction of inspectorate ranks in the late 1970s, formalizing mid-level leadership, and the recruitment of female officers beginning in 1987, marking initial steps toward gender inclusivity in a traditionally male-dominated paramilitary unit.[20] Throughout the period, the Administration Police retained its paramilitary character, operating under the Administration Police Act (Cap. 85), amended via Legal Notice 718/1963 to align with the new constitutional framework.[22]Post-2010 Reforms and Merger
In response to the 2007–2008 post-election violence, the Waki Commission recommended merging the Kenya Police Service (KPS) and Administration Police Service (APS) to address institutional rivalries, duplication of roles, and inefficiencies in policing.[23] The subsequent Kenya National Task Force on Police Reforms, established in 2010, endorsed this merger as part of broader restructuring to create a unified National Police Service (NPS) focused on modernizing operations, enhancing accountability, and aligning with civilian oversight.[23] The Constitution of Kenya, promulgated on August 27, 2010, formalized the NPS under Article 243, comprising the KPS for general law enforcement and the APS for internal security support, both placed under a single Inspector General of Police to centralize command and reduce fragmented authority.[24] The National Police Service Act No. 11A of 2011 operationalized this framework, mandating integration of functions such as patrols, rapid response, and county-level security while retaining specialized APS units for border patrol and protected areas; it also introduced vetting processes starting in 2013 to assess officers' integrity, resulting in the dismissal or retirement of over 5,000 personnel by 2016 for misconduct or ineligibility. However, implementation faced resistance, with APS maintaining semi-autonomous hierarchies and distinct uniforms, leading to persistent operational silos despite the structural merger.[24] Further consolidation occurred in September 2018 when President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the full merger of KPS and APS into a unified General Duty cadre to eliminate redundancies, streamline 42,000 combined personnel, and reallocate APS officers to frontline policing roles previously dominated by KPS.[25] By July 2019, approximately 24,000 APS officers were formally transferred to KPS oversight, enhancing resource sharing for urban security and counter-terrorism, though specialized APS formations like the Rapid Deployment Unit were preserved for high-risk operations.[26] Evaluations indicate partial success, with improved coordination in joint operations but ongoing challenges including welfare disparities, command overlaps, and cultural resistance from APS ranks accustomed to administrative attachments, as documented in audits showing unmerged logistics and training pipelines as of 2020.[26]Organizational Structure
Command Hierarchy
The command hierarchy of the Administration Police Service (APS) forms part of the unified National Police Service (NPS) structure, ensuring centralized oversight while allowing operational specialization in administrative policing, border security, and protective duties. At the national level, ultimate authority resides with the Inspector General of Police, who serves as the principal commander and administrator of the entire NPS, including both the Kenya Police Service and APS.[27][28] The Inspector General, currently Douglas Kanja as of August 2025, directs strategic policy, resource allocation, and accountability across all services.[28] Direct command of the APS falls under a dedicated Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Administration Police, who reports to the Inspector General and holds responsibility for the service's day-to-day operations, training, logistics, and deployment of over 20,000 personnel as of recent estimates. This position, occupied by Gilbert Masengeli in August 2025, oversees protective security, border patrol units, and rapid deployment teams, with authority to issue operational directives aligned with national security priorities.[28][29] Beneath the DIG, senior leadership includes Senior Assistant Inspectors General (SAIGs), such as Dr. Masoud M. Mwinyi, who acts as Principal Deputy to the DIG, handling specialized portfolios like training and regional coordination.[6] Additional SAIGs and Assistant Inspectors General manage directorates for operations, intelligence, and logistics, ensuring cascading orders from headquarters to field units.[30] The hierarchy descends through regional and territorial commands, with Regional Commanders (typically at SAIG or AIG level) supervising multiple counties, followed by County Commanders and Sub-County Officers who execute local patrols, VIP protection, and administrative enforcement.[30] Commandants of specialized units, such as the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) established in early 2025, report directly to the DIG APS to maintain operational autonomy while upholding chain-of-command protocols for accountability.[31] This structure, formalized under the National Police Service Act of 2011, emphasizes vertical reporting lines to prevent fragmented authority and facilitate rapid response, though it has faced scrutiny for occasional overlaps with Kenya Police Service jurisdictions at county levels.Specialized Units and Operations
The Administration Police Service operates several specialized units designed to handle high-risk, targeted security mandates beyond routine policing, such as rapid response to threats, border protection, livestock theft prevention, and counter-terrorism operations. These formations enhance the service's capacity for direct action, intelligence-driven interventions, and support to national security objectives, often collaborating with other police commands during emergencies or conflicts.[5][32] The Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) serves as a versatile force for immediate crisis intervention, conducting direct action operations including counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, hostage rescue, and public order management in urban or aquatic environments. It coordinates rapid response services, provides security during national emergencies, international events, and conflicts, and complements other units like the Anti-Stock Theft Unit in containing banditry and cattle rustling. Additional roles encompass disaster response, protection of high-risk individuals, covert surveillance, and addressing crimes against peace, with a structure emphasizing a balanced mix of general and specialized capabilities for forward deployment.[5] The Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) focuses on combating livestock theft prevalent in pastoralist regions, executing anti-stock theft operations, investigations, and prevention services including conflict early warning, intervention, and crime mapping analysis. Established to curb economic losses from raiding and rustling, it supports broader peacebuilding efforts and has been active in recovering stolen animals, as demonstrated in operations in areas like Meru County.[33][34][35] The Border Police Unit (BPU), founded on July 1, 2008, secures Kenya's frontiers against cross-border crimes such as smuggling, trafficking, and incursions, with officers deployed in field bases across counties including Kitui, Garissa, and others along porous borders. It conducts patrols, community engagements for intelligence gathering, and medical outreach to build local cooperation, while receiving support for mobility enhancements like vehicles and training to bolster firearms proficiency and operational capacity.[36][37][38] The Special Operations Group (SOG) functions as an elite, intelligence-led paramilitary unit specializing in counter-terrorism and high-threat dismantlement, such as neutralizing militia networks and responding to al-Shabaab-linked activities through tactical raids and preventive operations. Comprising highly trained commandos, it exploits advanced techniques for rapid, lethal engagements and has been pivotal in securing border areas and urban threats since its integration into Administration Police structures.[32][39][40]Personnel
Ranks and Insignia
The Administration Police Service (APS) utilizes the same rank structure as the National Police Service (NPS), harmonized under the National Police Service Act, 2011, to facilitate integrated command between the Kenya Police Service and APS.[41] This hierarchy spans 13 pay grades (PG 1 to PG 13), with progression typically requiring three years of service in the prior rank, alongside performance evaluations and training.[42] The structure supports APS roles in border security, VIP protection, and rapid response, with ranks assigned based on operational needs rather than service-specific variations.[42] Insignia denote rank through shoulder epaulets for gazetted officers (Assistant Superintendent and above), featuring combinations of bars, stars, crossed swords, swagger canes, laurel wreaths, and lion badges symbolizing authority and national heritage.[43] Non-gazetted ranks (Constable to Chief Inspector) use sleeve chevrons, often with the Kenya Coat of Arms above.[44] Revisions effective April 7, 2017, standardized designs across the NPS, including APS, with senior ranks incorporating military-pattern stars and wreaths for enhanced visibility.[45]| Rank | Pay Grade |
|---|---|
| Constable | PG 1 |
| Corporal | PG 2 |
| Sergeant | PG 3 |
| Senior Sergeant | PG 4 |
| Inspector | PG 5 |
| Chief Inspector | PG 6 |
| Assistant Superintendent | PG 7 |
| Superintendent | PG 8 |
| Senior Superintendent | PG 9 |
| Commissioner | PG 10 |
| Assistant Inspector General | PG 11 |
| Senior Assistant Inspector General | PG 12 |
| Deputy Inspector General | PG 13 |
| Inspector General | PG 14 |