Why all-female SWAT team has been deployed in Nairobi CBD

Kenya's first all-female Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) has been deployed in Nairobi CBD, Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Noor Gabow has confirmed.

The team, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, comprises of 48 women who have been specially trained for unarmed combat, shooting with a high level of accuracy, assembling explosives, scaling buildings among other tactical operations.

They have been deployed on patrol around the city and can be spotted in their full gear, armed and faces draped with balaclavas.

According to the AP boss, the commandos have been deployed to quash crime for five months before resuming their 15-month training programme.

Kenya ladies SWAT team during EAPCCO games where they won the shooting match. 48-member all-female SWAT team deployed to Nairobi CBD - AP Police boss Noor Gabow Pulse Live Kenya

"They will enhance police visibility and sufficiently respond to distress calls from the public while supplementing any existing ground forces.

"We are hoping to deploy them to other places and train more. They are ready to serve anywhere," Gabow explained.

All-female Kenyan SWAT team

Kenya is one of four countries in the world that have an all-female tactics unit, the other three being Libya, India and the United States.

Three of the unit's members - Belinda Akoth, Pasquelina Kithaka and Grace Rantile - took position one, two and three respectively in the recently concluded EAPCCO games pistols shooting competition, ladies category.

The unit is based at the Ngong Police Training College and they were all selected from among the AP wing of the National Police Service.

They graduated in August and are scheduled for a passing-out parade that will be presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta when they complete their training.