Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat has challenged newly trained General Service Unit (GSU) recruits to uphold discipline, professionalism and respect for human rights as they prepare to begin serving the public.
Lagat said the responsibility of a police officer extends beyond confronting threats, urging the recruits to recognise that their conduct, particularly when no one is watching, will determine the level of public confidence in the service.
Speaking on Tuesday during a full-dress parade rehearsal for Recruits’ Detail 1B/2025 at the National Police College Embakasi “B” Campus, the DIG said the demanding GSU training was intended to prepare officers for the difficult realities of policing.
“Be courageous, but remain professional. Be firm, but humane,” Lagat told the recruits.
He urged the officers to exercise sound judgment and respect the rights and dignity of members of the public, noting that the strength of the police service should not only be measured by its ability to confront danger but also by its capacity to protect those it serves.
“You have endured tough training; now prepare for the toughest job yet: that of earning and keeping the trust of the Kenyan people,” he said.
Lagat said officers would encounter difficult people and challenging situations during their careers, but emphasised that such moments would ultimately test their character and commitment to service.
The DIG, who previously served as Commandant of the General Service Unit, also spoke of his personal connection to the institution, recalling that he had stood on the same parade ground on numerous occasions during his service.
He encouraged the recruits to take pride in being members of the GSU family and to wear the GSU badge with honour and courage.
Lagat also commended the instructors for their commitment in preparing the recruits for service, urging them to maintain the high standards that had brought the officers to the final stages of their training.
He congratulated the recruits and challenged them to make both the Kenya Police Service and the people of Kenya proud.
