NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec, 26 – Kenya’s elite all female Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is leading security patrols and surveillance operations in the country’s capital Nairobi, as millions of Kenyans continue to celebrate the Christmas festivities.
The unit has since Christmas day conducted several operations across Nairobi as the government continues to heighten security across the country particularly in cities that host large populations and may be susceptible to terror attacks.
The elite Female squad has among other duties been patrolling and inspecting key government installations in the Nairobi central business district (CBD) as well as popular tourist and entertainment locations across the city.
Administration Police have told Shahidi News that the SWAT team, consisting of nearly 50 specially trained officers have been deployed to patrol and enhance security in the city.
The teams have been divided into several teams: some have been patrolling the CBD on foot, others on their government issued police land cruisers while others are on 4 wheel motorcycles, in teams consisting of at least 6 officers.
Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai on Tuesday announced an increase of police officers being deployed across major highways to ensure Motorists comply with the COVId-19 guidelines as well as in other public spaces.
Officers from the Police Air Wing are amongst those working with the boots on ground as they conduct air surveillance.
Back in August, they were part of a multi-agency team that arrested three fraudsters along Moi Avenue who were subsequently charged with conspiracy to defraud members of the public after claiming to be employees of a mobile service provider.
The elite all female Special Weapons and Tactics team drawn from the Administration Police of the National police Service saw at least 48 officers graduate after undergoing a 5-month physical and combat drill training in a police training camp in Ngong.
The officers have since completed a 15-month programme standardized training.
The elite team which is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and capable of handling intricate specialized security operations have been trained in multiple weapons handling techniques including: management of improvised explosive devices(IED) and Israeli military self defense and fighting system, Krav Maga.
The officers are also capable of scaling multi-storey buildings, rescue hostages, engage in unarmed combat as well as conduct jungle operations.
Police further told Shahidi News that the elite team will enhance visibility while at the same time supplementing boots on the ground in case of an emergency.
Plans are already underway to enlist and train more officers who will be deployed across the country.
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