The history of Kenya Police dates back to existence of Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEA) in Kenya when the head of IBEA, Sir William Mackinnon formed a small armed guard unit in Mombasa to protect IBEA stores at the coast.
It also has a nostalgic touch to the growth of the Kenya-Uganda Railway where police units sprang in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu to protect rail workers and property.
Early askaris were Asians since majority of railway workers were from India. Laws that were used to maintain law and order were from India, with Indian C.G.D. Farquhar as the first Inspector General in 1902.
Kenya Police Force opened its wings to have the Criminal Intelligence Unit, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Kenya Police Reserved, a Dog Unit and the General Service Unit.
The Police Headquarters was opened in 1957 and the Kenya Police integrated with the Ministry of Defence the following year.
Kenya gaining independence in 1963 saw to the adding of more police units including the Anti—Stock Theft Unit, Anti—Motor Vehicle Theft Unit, Tourism Police, Anti— Corruption Police, Presidential Escort and recently, the Anti—Terrorism Police.
At independence, Bernard Hinga became first African Kenya Police boss, taking power from Inspector – General Richard C. Catling.
The 1980s and 1990 saw hundreds of political activists and ordinary criminals brutalized by the Kenya police. With the election of Mwai Kibaki as president in 2002 however, there were reforms that saw to decline in political detentions and arrests by the police.
The Kenya Police Service has had 11 African heads since independence including Bernard Hinga 1964-1978, Ben Gethi 1978-1982, Bernard Njinu 1982-1988, Phillip Kilonzo 1988-1993, Shedrack Kiruki 1993-96, Duncan Wachira 1996-98, Philemon Abong’o 98-2002, Edwin Nyaseda 2002-03, Maj Gen M. Hussein Ali 2004-O9, Mathew lteere 2009-2012, David M. Kimaiyo 2012 -2014 and Joseph K. Boinnet 2014-present.
David Kimaiyo was replaced after public criticism that he failed to combat a series of terrorist attacks in Kenya that included the Mandera quarry killings in which 36 workers were massacred.
