197:
310:
124:
34:
225:(7 July) celebrations of 1990, where 30 people were killed as the police and General Service Units took action. More recently, in July 2005, troops of the GSU were sent to northern Kenya to seek out those responsible for the deaths of 76 people, 22 of them children, at a school in the area. The GSU helped prevent further friction between feuding
176:
Secondly, it is designed to function as a dynamic operational force, emphasizing its role in dealing with evolving challenges rather than being relegated to static duties. Additionally, the GSU serves as a reserve force, specifically tasked with managing special operations and civil disorders, offering crucial support when required.
209:
before being renamed the
General Service Unit in September 1953. The newly designated GSU consisted of 47 European officers and 1,058 Africans divided into 5 regional companies each consisting of a number of 39-man platoons. In 1957, the unit was re-organised and all the companies were brought under
187:
The GSU plays a pivotal role in tackling banditry and cattle rustling, addressing security concerns in rural areas and safeguarding communities from armed criminal activities. Furthermore, the unit takes on the important responsibility of countering terrorism activities and insurgencies, working to
179:
The functions of the GSU are diverse and integral to ensuring the security and stability of Kenya. Firstly, they are responsible for providing security to His
Excellency the President and safeguarding state houses and lodges, ensuring the safety of the nation's leadership. Secondly, the GSU extends
300:
The other 23 companies have
Officer Commanding (OC), and are listed in alphabetical order starting from 'A' company to 'Y' company. There is no 'O' company. Each company consists of three platoons and the company headquarters personnel. Originally a platoon consisted of 30 personnel but nowadays a
246:
Originally, GSU members were drawn from the existing ranks of the Kenyan Police force, were from a number of ethnic backgrounds, and were trained in the Kenya Police
College and placed on a two-year tour of duty. However, with the increase of Africanisation in 1963, the majority of members were by
183:
Moreover, the GSU is equipped to handle situations involving civil disturbances and riotous mobs, employing appropriate measures to maintain order and protect citizens. In addition to their domestic responsibilities, the GSU actively engages in anti-poaching operations, helping preserve Kenya's
175:
The objectives of the
General Service Unit (GSU) of the Kenya Police are explicitly stated to address various aspects of internal security within the republic. Firstly, the GSU aims to handle situations that impact the nation's internal security, encompassing a broad range of potential threats.
180:
its security services to selected foreign airlines operating within the country, reinforcing international safety measures. Thirdly, the unit takes charge of protecting vital installations and strategic points, safeguarding critical infrastructure and assets from potential threats.
233:
communities when they were transported to the region by two police and two military helicopters, as well as two ministers from the Kenyan government. Currently, the GSU has around 5,000 paramilitary troops, of which 2000 are the
267:, on 10-month-long courses, with further 5-month long courses required for promotion. As with various branches of the Kenyan armed forces, the GSU also sends its officers to Great Britain to be trained in such facilities as the
204:
Initially created as the
Emergency Company or Regular Police Reserve in 1948, the GSU began as a unit of 50 men armed with Bren guns carriers and armoured cars and was involved in a number of uprisings including the
184:
natural heritage by combating illegal wildlife activities. The unit is also involved in escort duties, ensuring the safe transportation of valuable assets or personnel.
283:
The GSU is organised in companies each under a company commander. Four of these companies have commanding officers and they are regarded as the 'big four'. These are:
629:
221:
During the 1990s, the GSU worked in central Kenya to quell socialist political unrest and demonstrations against the Kenyan government, such as the
296:
The (Presidential) Guard
Company 'G' company whose officers are solely charged with the duties of protecting the various state houses and lodges.
639:
550:
460:
159:. Having been in existence since 1948, the GSU has fought in a number of conflicts in and around Kenya, including the 1963 – 1969
634:
387:
238:
trained and battle hardened 'Recce group'. It is regulated under chapter seven of the
National Police Service Standing Orders.
210:
one commander, a S. G. Thomson. In 1961, the unit deployed outside Kenya for the first time to deal with civil unrest in
38:
General
Service Unit police cordon off Uhuru Park to bar opposition from holding their mass protest rally, January 2008.
614:
598:
584:
272:
196:
409:
268:
248:
309:
259:, respectively. Most recently, all GSU members have been trained at the GSU-specific Training School in
123:
156:
256:
144:
558:
468:
148:
115:
528:
8:
395:
610:
594:
580:
206:
164:
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who total 5.9 million, equal to about 13% and 7.4 million, equal to about 22% of
494:
151:, consisting of highly trained police officers, transported by seven dedicated
623:
264:
252:
222:
214:, and then from 1963 until 1969 the GSU fought the secessionists during the
607:
Church, State and
Society in Kenya: from mediation to opposition, 1963–1993
230:
226:
140:
603:
215:
160:
260:
211:
33:
87:
235:
152:
591:
Analyzing the Third World: Essays from "Comparative Politics"
188:
prevent and mitigate potential threats to national security.
91:
357:
William Saiya Aswenje (23 September 2009 – 20 March 2014)
577:
Beyond Capitalism Vs. Socialism in Kenya and Tanzania
360:
Joel Kitili Mboya (20 March 2014 – 2 September 2015)
348:D. M. Kimaiyo (1 September 2002 – 15 January 2003)
514:
512:
287:The Headquarters Company based at Ruaraka Nairobi
621:
382:
380:
363:Stephen Chelimo (5 September 2015 – 7 July 2018)
354:Mathew Iteere – (2 June 2005 – 8 September 2009)
351:Lawrence Mwadime (16 January 2003 – 2 June 2005)
345:S. K. Cheramboss (29 June 1999 – 30 August 2002)
509:
333:P. Mbuthia (2 September 1978 – 24 August 1982)
330:B. M. Gethi (18 April 1967 – 1 September 1978)
327:R. J. Angel (27 February 1964 – 17 April 1967)
377:
366:Douglas K. Kanja (8 July 2018- 12 April 2023)
342:C. C. Kimurgor (10 March 1993 – 29 June 1999)
339:J. K. A. Kosgei (8 April 1987 – 9 March 1993)
336:E. K. Mbijiwe (25 August 1982 – 8 April 1987)
290:The National Police College Embakasi B Campus
16:Paramilitary wing of the Kenya Police service
630:Non-military counterinsurgency organizations
324:Mackenzie (21 March 1963 – 26 February 1964)
318:S. G. Thompson (19 May 1961 – 17 July 1961)
247:1967 from native Kenyan tribes such as the
63:Emergency Company or Regular Police Reserve
321:S. G. Smith (27 July 1961 – 20 March 1963)
455:
453:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
308:
301:platoon can have as many as 60 members.
195:
122:
489:
487:
622:
436:
313:Douglas Kanja, former GSU Commandant.
484:
13:
14:
651:
640:Law enforcement agencies of Kenya
495:"Crack troops seek Kenya killers"
293:The Recce Company based at Ruiru,
32:
543:
263:and its Field Training Camp in
635:Government paramilitary forces
534:
521:
475:
427:
402:
392:Institute for Security Studies
388:"Kenya – Security Information"
1:
569:
304:
269:Britannia Royal Naval College
200:Police GSU Cessna 208 Caravan
278:
241:
104:Eliud Lagat Saig, Commandant
7:
10:
656:
551:"The General Service Unit"
461:"The General Service Unit"
191:
27:General Service Unit (GSU)
170:
127:GSU officers in a parade.
111:
97:
83:
78:
70:
56:
48:
43:
31:
26:
497:. BBC News. 15 July 2005
370:
257:Kenya's total population
531:. Retrieved 28 May 2007
410:"General Service Unit"
314:
201:
128:
21:Law enforcement agency
471:on 29 September 2007.
312:
199:
126:
79:Operational structure
589:Provizer, Norman W.
414:Kenya Police Service
149:Kenya Police Service
133:General Service Unit
116:Kenya Police Service
527:CIA World Factbook
315:
202:
145:Police Field Force
129:
121:
120:
647:
575:Barkan, Joel D.
563:
562:
557:. Archived from
547:
541:
538:
532:
525:
519:
516:
507:
506:
504:
502:
491:
482:
479:
473:
472:
467:. Archived from
457:
434:
431:
425:
424:
422:
420:
406:
400:
399:
398:on 16 June 2008.
394:. Archived from
384:
207:Mau Mau Uprising
165:1982 Kenyan coup
157:Bell helicopters
98:Agency executive
57:Preceding agency
36:
24:
23:
655:
654:
650:
649:
648:
646:
645:
644:
620:
619:
572:
567:
566:
549:
548:
544:
540:Provizer p. 344
539:
535:
526:
522:
518:Provizer p. 343
517:
510:
500:
498:
493:
492:
485:
480:
476:
459:
458:
437:
432:
428:
418:
416:
408:
407:
403:
386:
385:
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373:
307:
281:
244:
194:
173:
107:
66:
44:Agency overview
39:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
653:
643:
642:
637:
632:
618:
617:
601:
587:
571:
568:
565:
564:
561:on 7 May 2010.
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533:
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508:
483:
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41:
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29:
28:
20:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
652:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
627:
625:
616:
615:0-7146-5077-3
612:
608:
605:
602:
600:
599:0-87073-943-3
596:
592:
588:
586:
585:1-55587-530-0
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496:
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365:
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228:
224:
223:Saba Saba Day
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117:
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112:Parent agency
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73:
69:
62:
61:
59:
55:
51:
47:
42:
35:
30:
25:
19:
606:
604:Sabar, Galia
590:
576:
559:the original
555:Kenya Police
554:
545:
536:
523:
499:. Retrieved
481:Barkan p. 59
477:
469:the original
465:Kenya Police
464:
433:Sabar p. 181
429:
417:. Retrieved
413:
404:
396:the original
391:
299:
282:
245:
220:
203:
186:
182:
178:
174:
141:paramilitary
136:
132:
130:
84:Headquarters
74:≈6000 (2003)
52:August, 1953
18:
143:wing (i.e.
624:Categories
570:References
501:8 December
419:8 December
305:Commanders
216:Shifta War
161:Shifta War
155:and three
279:Structure
273:Sandhurst
242:Personnel
147:) in the
71:Employees
261:Embakasi
212:Zanzibar
163:and the
609:, 2002
593:, 1978
579:, 1994
529:figures
251:or the
236:Israeli
192:History
153:Cessnas
139:) is a
88:Nairobi
613:
597:
583:
265:Magadi
253:Kikuyu
231:Borana
171:Duties
49:Formed
371:Notes
227:Gabra
92:Kenya
611:ISBN
595:ISBN
581:ISBN
503:2019
421:2019
271:and
229:and
131:The
249:Luo
137:GSU
626::
553:.
511:^
486:^
463:.
438:^
412:.
390:.
379:^
275:.
218:.
167:.
90:,
505:.
423:.
135:(
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