The National Police Service (NPS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening election security and cooperation with the media ahead of the 2027 General Election following a three-day preparedness training in Nakuru.
The training brought together journalists and police communication officials to discuss responsible reporting, information verification, electoral accountability and the role of communication in promoting peaceful elections.
Organised by International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya in collaboration with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the programme concluded on Friday, October 16, 2026, with NPS Heads of Communications from various departments participating.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, October 17, the police service said the engagement aimed to strengthen media-police relations, improve coordination among security agencies and support a peaceful, transparent and well-informed electoral environment.
The training involved communication officials from NPS Headquarters, the Kenya Police Service (KPS), the Administration Police Service (APS), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU).
Police Focus on Communication Ahead of 2027 Polls
According to the NPS, the training focused on improving communication between police officers and journalists while ensuring the public receives timely, accurate and factual information during the election period.
Participants discussed conflict-sensitive journalism, hate speech mitigation, digital information integrity, artificial intelligence, journalist safety and the importance of verifying information before publication.
The sessions also examined how irresponsible reporting, misinformation and inflammatory content can heighten political tensions during an election campaign.
“The training brought together journalists and communication professionals to strengthen preparedness for the 2027 General Election, with a focus on accurate, ethical and responsible reporting, electoral accountability, information verification, digital information integrity, artificial intelligence, conflict-sensitive journalism, hate speech mitigation and journalist safety,” the NPS stated.
The service said stronger cooperation with media professionals would help improve public understanding of security operations and support confidence in the electoral process.
“The engagement reaffirmed the NPS’s commitment to strengthening media–police relations, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and supporting a peaceful, transparent and well-informed electoral environment ahead of the 2027 General Election,” the statement added.
IG Kanja Outlines Wider Election Security Preparations
The latest engagement comes as security agencies and electoral stakeholders prepare for the 2027 General Election, with police coordination, training and operational readiness emerging as key priorities.
In September 2026, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the NPS planned to strengthen coordination among security agencies and develop an election security deployment and communication plan to address potential threats.
The proposed measures include aligning police operations with electoral laws and procedures and improving collaboration with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other relevant institutions.
In May 2026, Kanja also told a parliamentary committee that police were preparing for the elections through training, recruitment and proposed technological upgrades intended to strengthen operational readiness.
The plans are aimed at equipping officers to respond to security challenges before, during and after the polls.
Media and Police Cooperation in Focus
The Nakuru training highlights the importance of coordination between security agencies and journalists as political campaigns gather momentum ahead of the next election.
Police communication officials are expected to play a key role in providing verified information, addressing public concerns and communicating security updates during the electoral period.
Journalists, meanwhile, face the responsibility of reporting accurately and ethically while avoiding the spread of unverified claims that could inflame tensions.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the NPS says stronger collaboration with the media and other institutions will form part of its efforts to support a peaceful and orderly electoral process.
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