Kenya has asked Italy to support the creation of a specialised police unit for the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, as the two countries move to strengthen cooperation on security, organised crime and counter-terrorism.
The request was made by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja during talks with Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, at the National Police Service headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday.
The meeting came days after Kenya and Italy signed a Letter of Intent on Security Cooperation, signalling closer ties between the two governments on policing and public safety. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen led the Kenyan delegation.
Kanja said the proposed Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit would help improve security, maintain public order and enhance public safety across the capital and its surrounding metropolitan region.
The discussions also focused on the growing threat of transnational organised crime.
Piantedosi called for stronger cooperation in dismantling financial networks linked to drug trafficking. He said closer collaboration through Interpol and other international policing bodies would help tackle cross-border criminal operations more effectively.
He also urged greater cooperation in investigating financial and economic crimes, including tracing illicit financial flows and recovering criminal assets. The Italian minister further highlighted the need to work together against migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
Italy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kenya’s counter-terrorism efforts through training, operational partnerships and programmes aimed at strengthening policing capacity.
Piantedosi pointed to Italy’s International Training and Education Programme for Africa (ITEPA) as a key platform for improving the operational skills of African police services.
Kanja also sought Italy’s support in expanding technology within Kenya’s police service. He said integrating the Integrated Command, Control, Communication and Coordination (IC4) system would strengthen the service’s ability to detect, predict and respond to crime more quickly.
He further called for deeper cooperation in officer training, intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building as Kenya responds to changing security threats.
The meeting was attended by Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Deputy Inspectors General Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli, as well as Secretary Administration and Accounting Officer Bernice Lemedeket.
The talks underscored the growing security partnership between Kenya and Italy as both countries seek closer collaboration in policing, intelligence sharing and the fight against organised crime.
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