Kilimani Residents Association has embarked on a new initiative that has been hailed as trendsetter for community policing across the country.
The initiative seeks to build a Ksh350 Million ultra-modern police station befitting its status as the center that serves State House, major embassies, several ministry headquarters, major hospitals, and universities, among other installations.
According to the chairman of the steering committee Karanja Kabage, the construction of the new station, which was established in 1914, is probably the most important police division in the country, thus the need for an uplift.
Kabage told The Nation that the construction of the station is expected to kick off on June 15 and if everything goes according to plan, will take 18 months to be completed.
“Our intention is to put up an ultra-modern police station with modern facilities. There is also going to be a community policing office within the station,” he revealed.
“We are also going to have conference facilities, a research centre for the office, a shopping area for the police and also playing facilities for kids,” he added.
Funding for the project will reportedly come from private companies and from individual contributions.
According to Kabage, some of the institutions willing to support the project include the Chinese embassy, the Nairobi county government, the National Police Service and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance Foundation. Others include the Public Works Department, the ICEA Lion Group and the Safaricom Group.
So far, the residents have dug a Ksh6 Million borehole at the station. They have also conducted several clean-up activities, including the removal of damaged accident cars from the station and planting of trees.
They also have open days with the police, where they dine with the police, among other initiatives aimed at strengthening their relations with the police.
