DIG Lagat Launches Higher Police Training Courses at Kiganjo, Calls for Leadership Rooted in Public Trust

By : Mweru Mbugua 

Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat has officially opened the Higher Training Courses (HTC 127–130) at the National Police College (NPC) Kiganjo, describing the programme as a critical investment in the future leadership of the Service and the stability of the nation

Speaking during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Lagat said the courses were not a routine administrative exercise but a deliberate effort to prepare strategic commanders for the evolving demands of policing in Kenya

“We are not here to mark a routine administrative event. We are here to commission a leadership cadre for the Kenya of tomorrow,” Lagat said. “You are a strategic investment in our nation’s stability and a deliberate answer to the question of who will protect the promise of Kenya”

He noted that the officers joining the programme have served during a transformative period for policing, characterised by reforms, constitutional accountability and intense public scrutiny amplified by social media

According to the DIG, the course offers an opportunity for institutional renewal, challenging participants to redefine leadership through personal conduct rather than authority alone

“Today, you begin the more difficult task of authoring a new narrative by your daily conduct. Leadership is about transforming an institution not by decree, but by example,” he said

Lagat emphasised that effective strategic command must focus on rebuilding public trust, adding that true authority is earned through legitimacy and engagement with communities

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Describing NPC Kiganjo as a “forge,” he said the college would refine officers’ operational experience into command capability, with an emphasis on listening, ethical leadership and community safety

“The most powerful tool in our arsenal is not a weapon, but a listening ear. The ultimate goal of every operation is a safer, more cohesive community,” he said

He urged participants to treat their required concept papers as policy contributions, encouraging them to design solutions to emerging challenges such as climate-related conflict, hate speech and community-centred policing

In closing, Lagat reminded the officers of the responsibility that comes with advanced training. “When you walk out of Kiganjo, you will carry the weight of a nation’s trust,” he said, before officially declaring the Higher Training Courses 127–130 open