The National Police Service (NPS) is celebrating one of their own, who has achieved monumental milestones in academics.

Chief Inspector (CI) Isaac Njiraini Muhia is currently serving at the Directorate of Corporate Communication, NPS Headquarters, Jogoo House ‘A’. He was recently awarded a Gold Medal for attaining first position in order of merit in his Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication programme at the Central University of Punjab’s School of Information and Communication Studies.

Njiraini received the award during the university’s graduation ceremony, which was held in Bathinda, Punjab State, India, on March 11, 2025. The event was presided over by India’s President Droupadi Murmu.

Njiraini is the first international student of African descent to receive the Gold Medal in the history of the Central University of Punjab. “This is no mean feat. It has brought honour, glory, and pride to the National Police Service and to Kenya,” NPS says.

His thesis, NPS says, focused on Health Communication, particularly misinformation in prostate cancer. Misinformation affects patient decisions and trust in medical professionals. Similarly, misinformation is a major problem in law enforcement, where unverified claims, false information, distorted facts, and social media speculation shape public perception of the police in Kenya, undermining public confidence and affecting officers’ morale.

The research on misinformation underscores the need for proactive communication strategies, such as community engagement and evidence-based interventions, to ensure that accurate information reaches the public, fostering trust in law enforcement.

Additionally, during his time at the university, Njiraini served as a Foreign Delegate Member in the 16th National Youth Parliament (NYP) of India. He participated in the NYP’s annual competition, organised to foster democratic values, encourage public speaking, and enhance parliamentary awareness among students.

The Central University of Punjab won first place, becoming the National Champion. He undertook the course through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship Scheme, a government institution that promotes cultural exchange between India and other countries.

Njiraini sincerely appreciated the NPS and the Government of India for the opportunity to pursue this degree.

“The National Police Service (NPS) takes pride in Chief Inspector Isaac Njiraini Muhia as a distinguished trailblazer and an accomplished scholar, embodying the virtues of hard work and dedication to duty. He is a shining example and a mentor to police officers aspiring to pursue academic excellence,” NPS adds.

NPS hopes that the knowledge and skills he has acquired will be instrumental in promoting public confidence and trust by conveying informative, accurate, timely, and factual information to build and promote a positive image of the police service.