Kenya unveils Sh1.9 billion police fleet under state motor leasing plan

The government has rolled out a new fleet of security vehicles under the seventh phase of the Government Motor Vehicle Leasing Programme, a Sh1.9 billion initiative implemented in partnership with the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, RentCo Africa, and CFAO Mobility Kenya.

The vehicles were officially flagged off at the Toyota Kenya Academy Grounds, marking the start of a phased nationwide rollout to strengthen operational mobility within the National Police Service.

Authorities said the remaining units would be dispatched in the coming weeks as part of a structured delivery schedule.

The expanded fleet is expected to improve police mobility significantly, enhance response times, and strengthen security operations across the country, particularly in remote and high-risk regions where terrain and distance often limit rapid deployment.

The latest batch includes the upgraded Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series, a rugged pickup widely used by security and emergency services.

The vehicle is powered by a 2.8-litre 1GD turbo-diesel enginecapable of producing150 kW of power and up to 500 Nm of torque, enabling it to perform effectively in challenging environments ranging from rough terrain to long-distance patrol operations.

Officials say the upgraded engine improves fuel efficiency and durability, two critical factors for law-enforcement units operating in remote locations with limited refuelling infrastructure.

Unveiled in 2013, the Government Motor Vehicle Leasing Programme to modernise public sector fleets through structured asset-backed leasing rather than direct procurement.

Under the arrangement, private sector partners finance and supply vehicles while the government pays predictable lease installments over several years, spreading the cost of the fleet across the vehicle’s operational life.

This model allows the government to avoid large upfront capital expenditure on vehicle procurement, preserve fiscal space for other development priorities, and ensure professional fleet maintenance and lifecycle management. It is also intended to replace ageing vehicles in a structured and predictable manner.

Through the framework, the National Treasury and Economic Planning works with financing partners to structure the lease, while vehicles are deployed to agencies such as the police and other public institutions.

Analysts say the approach has saved the government billions of shillings in capital spending over the past decade, while also reducing costs linked to breakdowns, inefficient fuel consumption and irregular maintenance that previously affected older government fleets.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on behalf of RentCo Africa’s Group CEO and Founder, Robert Nyasimi, the company’s Group Chief Commercial Officer, Nancy Kunga, said the programme demonstrates the power of structured public-private partnerships.

“Today’s flag-off represents more than the deployment of vehicles. It demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration to deliver critical national assets through disciplined, scalable financing frameworks,” Kunga said.

“Structured leasing has proven to be an effective mechanism for modernizing public sector infrastructure while preserving fiscal space for other development priorities.”

 Nyasimi emphasized that asset-based financing is increasingly becoming a strategic development tool.

“Our ability to structure multi-phase leasing programmes reflects both financial strength and the institutional confidence built over years of execution. Leasing is no longer simply a financing option — it is a strategic development instrument capable of accelerating growth across sectors such as healthcare, education, food security, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure.”

Welcoming the deployment, Gilbert Masengeli, Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Administration Police Service, said the new fleet will significantly improve policing capabilities.

“Enhanced mobility is critical to effective policing. The addition of this fleet ensures our officers are better equipped to respond promptly and deliver security services efficiently across the country,” he said.

“The Toyota Land Cruiser’s robustness and reliability across varied environments make it well-suited to our operational demands.”

Industry analysts note that Kenya’s leasing framework is increasingly being studied across the region as governments seek ways tomobilize domestic capital while accelerating infrastructure and service delivery.

With rising fiscal pressures across African economies, structured leasing models are emerging as practical alternatives to traditional procurement, particularly for sectors that require high-value assets such as vehicles, medical equipment and energy infrastructure.

Cooperative Bank Kenya says that it has significantly expanded its asset finance and leasing over the years

“Our ability to structure flexible, bankable financing solutions continues to support economic growth and operational efficiency for many institutions across the country,’’ said Cooperative Bank of Kenya’s head of Corporate Banking, Enid Muturi.