DIG Lagat urges senior officers to embrace continuous learning

Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat has urged senior police officers to embrace continuous learning and adaptive leadership, saying modern policing requires skills, vision, and professionalism beyond rank.

Lagat emphasised that ongoing skills development is essential for officers to meet the demands of contemporary policing.

“This was not merely training. It was an investment in you, in our Service, and in the safety of our nation,” he told officers during the closing ceremony of a six-month Higher Training Course for Chief Inspectors of Police at the National Police Service College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.

He said modern policing is constantly evolving, driven by new technologies, emerging threats, and shifting public expectations.

“Leadership today is not about holding rank; it is about holding vision,” he added.

Lagat noted that the newly trained officers represent the future of the Kenya Police Service and its ongoing transformation.

He said the officers will soon be promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police.

“It is not often that we gather in a room that hums with the quiet energy of transformation. Today, this hall holds more than officers; it holds the future of the Kenya Police Service,” he said.

He urged the officers to mentor junior colleagues responsibly, saying they should lead by example.

“Those you lead will not follow your title; they will follow your example. Lead with clarity. Lead with fairness. Lead with the humility to listen and the courage to stand alone when you must,” he said.

Lagat also called on the officers to apply their new knowledge to strengthen cooperation between the police and communities for better security management in their areas of service.

Reflecting on his career, he praised the officers for maintaining discipline, commitment, and dedication during the training period.

“I stand before you not only as your Deputy Inspector General, but as someone who has walked the path you are now beginning,” he said.

“Twenty-five weeks ago, you entered these gates as senior officers. Today, you leave as leaders, forged, tested, and entrusted.”

He acknowledged the officers’ commitment to growth, noting that they had paused their duties to complete the course.

He added that the officers demonstrated integrity and sacrifice during the training. “I have been told this course concluded without a single incident of indiscipline,” he said.

“That is not just commendable; it is symbolic. It tells me you understand that integrity is not a word we hang on walls; it is the compass we carry in our hearts,” he added.

Lagat said the training covered emerging security landscapes, modern command principles, and the balance between authority and service, strengthening leadership capacity.

“But the true test of this knowledge does not lie in your manuals or certificates. It lies in the moments yet to come,” he said, referring to future challenges such as difficult decisions and tense community engagements.

He urged officers to lead with empathy, stressing that security is built on trust.

“Our society watches us, not with mere expectation, but with hope. They hope for professionalism that respects their dignity,” he said.