Legal Framework

The Administration Police Service is established under Article 243 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 as one of the two Services that constitute the National Police Service. Further, Article 238 (1) defines National Security as the protection against internal and external threats of Kenyan territorial integrity and sovereignty, its people, their rights, freedoms, peace, stability, prosperity and other national interests.

The National Police Service Act, 2011 provides for the functions of the Administration Police Service; Section 27 (e) mandates APS to provide border patrol and border security. The Border Police Unit (BPU) was established in 2008 to operationalize this mandate as first line defense of the country in cooperation with other agencies.