The National Police Service (NPS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA), formalizing efforts to intensify the war on narcotics and dismantle criminal drug networks.
In a statement released by the NPS on Wednesday, July 16, the service highlighted the agreement as a pivotal step towards enhancing Kenya's capacity to enforce drug laws and combat cross-border drug trafficking more effectively.
The agreement was signed by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, representing Kenya, and Jason Schumacher, the Special Agent in Charge of Africa and the Middle East, on behalf of the US DEA.
“The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja, today led the National Police Service in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA), represented by the Special Agent in Charge of Africa and the Middle East, Mr. Jason Schumacher,” the statement reads.
The NPS clarified that the newly signed agreement is primarily designed to deepen cooperation in enforcing drug laws across both countries. The MoU will particularly emphasize joint coordinated operations and robust investigations to tackle drug-related crimes.
A core objective of the MoU is the effective disruption of intricate drug trafficking networks. This includes combating the illegal flow of narcotics, dismantling criminal organizations that operate across borders, and severing their sophisticated money laundering links.
The service also underscored that this enhanced collaboration with the US DEA is vital for protecting public safety and safeguarding national security in both Kenya and the United States.
Witnessing the signing were several senior Kenyan police officers. Among them were Mohamed Amin, the Director of Criminal Investigations; Mathew Kutoh, Principal Assistant to the IG; Amos Omuga, the Director of Legal Services; Muchiri Nyaga, Director of Corporate Communications; and CP Samuel Laboso, the Director of the Anti‑Narcotics Unit.
Schumacher was accompanied by the US DEA Country Attaché, Karl Ash; his Deputy Attachés, Mathias Walls and Scott Jenkins; International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Deputy Director and East Africa Coordinator, Parvathy Sankar; and the Law Enforcement Investigation Liaison Officer, Nairobi Office, Ruth Muinde.
This agreement came after the US supported Kenya's law enforcement by investing Ksh905 million in modernising the NPS college in Kiganjo through the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the UNODC.
Kenya has recently hosted a regional training workshop to address the online drug threat, sales, and synthetic substances, with officers from across East Africa being trained at the National Criminal Investigations Academy in Nairobi.
