Over 300 Police Chaplains trained to support officers’ mental health

More than 300 police chaplains from across the country have undergone specialized training aimed at strengthening their capacity to mentor, counsel and support police officers grappling with rising mental health and family-related challenges.

The three-day training, held in Limuru, brought together chaplains serving in various police formations and forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance officers’ wellbeing, performance and service delivery at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the forum, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and Director of Complaints, Inspections and Quality Assurance, Haron Nthiga, said police officers are increasingly exposed to stressful and traumatic experiences that negatively affect their mental and emotional health.

Nthiga noted that officers regularly encounter distressing situations, including fatal road accidents, violent crime scenes and prolonged deployments in hostile or high-risk environments. He said such experiences often take a toll not only on officers’ professional effectiveness but also on their family lives.

“Police officers are human beings who go through difficult and traumatic experiences in the course of duty,” Nthiga said. “Without proper support systems, these challenges can affect their judgment, relationships and overall performance.”

He explained that the training is designed to equip chaplains with skills to mentor officers, help them cope with stress and guide them back to emotional stability when affected by work-related or personal challenges. The initiative, he added, complements existing counselling and welfare services within the National Police Service.

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Nthiga urged officers facing personal or professional difficulties to speak out and seek help from trained counsellors; chaplains or commanders who have undergone leadership and welfare training, emphasizing that seeking help should not be seen as a sign of weakness.

Bishop Dr Kibet Kipkoech, the Chief Chaplain in the Administration Police Service and one of the facilitators, said the chaplains were trained to identify early signs of deep mental and emotional distress among officers and provide appropriate support or referrals.

He noted that police officers face hardships similar to other members of society, but their work environment often amplifies these challenges. “Suffering in silence only worsens mental health problems,” Dr Kipkoech said, adding that the training is intended to strengthen the police force and, by extension, society.

Dr Kipkoech acknowledged that the country still faces a shortage of police chaplains but noted that the government has been gradually increasing their numbers and continues to deploy more officers to address existing gaps.

The sentiments were echoed by Bishop John Langer, President of Go and Ministries and a key speaker at the forum, who said police officers perform demanding duties under challenging conditions. He reaffirmed continued support for officers’ mental wellbeing to ensure they remain resilient and effective as they serve the public.

By Felix Njenga