Gender key in picking police bosses

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI, KENYA, Nov. 22 - Gender and regional balancing will be a key determinant of who becomes Inspector General (IG) of Police.

The Constitution says one of the three top bosses has to be a woman.

Director of National Focal Point (NFP) David Kimaiyo is leading the pack of those poised to be named IG.

Mr Kimaiyo, a deputy commissioner of police, is followed in ranking by his deputy John Owino and Ms Grace Kaindi, commandant of Kenya Airports Police Unit.

Kimaiyo scored 86 per cent, Ochieng 78 per cent and Kaindi 69 per cent. In the Deputy Inspector General of Police category, CID director Ndegwa Muhoro is ranked first with 89 per cent followed by Judy Ndeda of Railways Police Unit 86 per cent and former spokesperson Jasper Ombati 85 per cent.

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In Administration Police (AP), current acting commandant Samuel Arachi leads in ranking with 90 per cent followed by deputy CID director Gideon Kimilu 87 per cent and GSU officer David Ngondi 85 per cent.

National Police Service Commission did the ranking. The names on each category were placed in Kenya gazette notice and forwarded to both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for consideration and appointment.

The two principals will name Deputy Inspector Generals for regular and AP units, but will have to send names of the three nominees of Inspector General to Parliament for approval. Lobbying has already begun. In terms of regional balancing, Kimaiyo comes from Elgeyo Marakwet, Owino from Siaya and Kaindi from Machakos.

Muhoro comes from Laikipia, Ndeda from Baringo and Ombati from Nyamira while Arachi is from Meru, Kimilu from Makueni and Ngondi from Embu.

Regional balance

Analysts say if Kimaiyo is nominated for the top position, the two principals can be compelled to move Kaindi to the slot of Deputy Inspector of Police and name Arachi as the boss of AP for gender balance.

The same will apply if Owino is named as IG but the principals may decide to retain Ndeda as the boss of regular police and Arachi for AP.

If Kaindi is appointed IG, the principals may settle for Ombati in regular and Arachi in AP respectfully.

They may as well propose Kaindi as IG, Muhoro deputy for regular and Arachi for AP but many argue there will be no regional balance.

Police commission interviewed about 27 candidates.

This means if Parliament approves the name of the IG, the country will hold elections under new police commanders. Chairman of police commission Johnston Kavuludi said they are satisfied that the nominees will institute reforms.