This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On Friday, Kenya marked a significant milestone in its security history with the graduation of its first all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), a first in sub-Saharan Africa.
The 48 commando officers, drawn from the Administration Police Service, underwent a rigorous 15-month training program, with the first phase consisting of five months of physical and combat drilling.
Interior Secretary Fred Matiang'i presided over the graduation ceremony in Ngong, emphasizing the importance of the team in addressing emerging security threats and hostage crises.
"Today gives us confidence as the government that we have the capacity to protect our people and secure our country. Now we can rest assured that we have more officers who can undertake intricate security operations that require specialized approaches," said Dr Matiang'i.
The team's training included Israeli Krav Maga, multiple weapons handling techniques, and management of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), preparing them to thwart terror threats and attacks.
Dr Matiang'i assured the team of government support, including improved welfare, advanced training, and capacity building.
Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai expressed his office's commitment to increasing the contingent in the next intake.
