National Intelligence Service (Kenya)

19th-century Kenyan intelligence The Nandi, on hearing of the British, sought to attack them. On the other hand, the Kamba people responded differently to the British as they had traversed the central and coastal areas as long-distance traders during which they gathered information for their leaders. British colonialists recruited mercenaries as porters and guides. First, the mercenaries provided information, but later, they served as community chiefs, displacing traditional leaders. This meant that most of those who became chiefs were opportunists. Later the government of the Kenya Protectorate began intelligence gathering which is shown in the timeline below. ==Timeline/progress==

• The colonial system did not destroy existing networks, but used them to build a new intelligence system. The colonial government initially gathered information from tourists, missionaries and traders, but after 1895 gathered information at the local level through commissioners and retainers, including from African allies and collaborators. From 1906, intelligence reports were submitted to the Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate. • In the post-World War Two period until 1963, the SB's activities expanded from the collection of intelligence on criminal activities to investigation of citizens agitating for independence and the trade union movement. The SB also expanded to combat the Mau Mau insurgency and was reorganised following intelligence failures. • The post-independence government inherited an intelligence mentality that used force to ensure compliance. After 1965, police and intelligence services became politicised and linked to individuals. By 1982, the police force (including the SB) had become a tool of oppression, systematically abusing the law and disregarding the Constitution. • In 1998, however, the National Security Intelligence Service was created, and over 170 SB officers were purged from the NSIS. In 1999, the NSIS and the police were separated, arrest authority was removed from the NSIS, and a tribunal was established for complaints against the intelligence service. Kenyan independence/Directorate of Security Intelligence (DSI) In 1963 with independence approaching Special Branch was made independent from the police and in 1969 it was given a new charter. The first director general (DG) of the new service was retired Brigadier Wilson A.C. Boinett who served until 2006, when he was replaced with Major-General Michael Gichangi. However, Gichangi did not complete his term and resigned his position in August 2014 citing personal reasons. His replacement, Major-General Philip Kameru then serving as the head of military intelligence, was appointed in September after vetting by the National Assembly. NSIS's intelligence gathering work includes: internal, external and strategic intelligence. The NSIS is charged with identifying conditions that threaten Kenya's political, economic and social stability. It develops techniques and strategies to neutralise such threats. The NSIS director is the national security advisor to the president of Kenya. Security of tenure given to the Director General of NSIS is designed to protect him from such abuse by members of the governing elite. He has the opportunity to say 'no' to any unlawful or sectarian instructions from his bosses without fear of losing his job. National Intelligence Service The NSIS was briefly renamed National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) and then to National Intelligence Service (NIS) its current name. ==Mission==

The National Intelligence Service in Kenya is concerned with: • Detecting and Identifying any potential threat to Kenya • Advising the President and Government of any security threat to Kenya • Taking steps to protect the security interests of Kenya whether political, military, or economic. • Vetting people that may hold positions that require security clearance. ==Divisions==

NIS is divided into seven sections: • 1. Administration under the director of administration, • 2. Information technology under the director of information technology • 3. Internal intelligence under the director of internal intelligence • 4. External intelligence under the director of external intelligence • 5. Analysis & production under the director of economic affairs • 6. Operations under the director of operations • 7. National Intelligence Academy under its own director ==Controversies and abuse of authority==

Abductions and extrajudicial killings In January 2019 a UN expert report alleged that NIS officers were involved in the tracking, abduction and rendition of South Sudanese activists, who were flown from Nairobi and then executed in Juba. In January 2025, Justin Muturi alleged the NIS to be involved in abduction of his son while he was cabinet secretary. In July 2025, Rigathi Gachagua alleged that 101 millitias were recruited,trained and work within NIS with a mission of tracking, doing abductions, killings and cover ups while receiving instructions from the Director General for the abuse of authority actions. According to Gachagua, the militia was recruited and trained while he served as Deputy president. In July 2025, Rigathi Gachagua alleged that 40 members of NIS were assigned to trail him while in on 2 month tour in the US with an intention to endanger his safety and trigger unrest in Kenya. ==Complaints against excesses and abuses of authority incidences by NIS==

In December 2024 the Public Service Commission (Kenya) advertised positions of members of Intelligence Service complaints board (ISCB). The board, created under Section 66 of the NIS Service Act, 2012, is tasked with receiving and investigating complaints against the NIS and its officers. ==See also==