New police nominees await Parliament nod

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI; KENYA: Former Director of Police Operations David Kimaiyo will be named the first Inspector General of Police if Parliament approves his name as planned.

Officials said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga settled on him last week as the man to lead the two police services before they forwarded the name to the House.

Acting Head of Civil Service boss Francis Kimemia said the name of a successful nominee had been handed to the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende. MPs will then discuss the nominee and decide on his suitability as the next police chief.

Sources said the current CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro has been selected as the new Deputy Inspector General of police while Mr Samuel Arachi will be the deputy for Administration Police.

Another source said the principals have settled on head of Interpol Ms Mary Kaol as the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

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The names are now set to be gazetted anytime by the President to approve their move to the new offices.

The process of naming the new police chiefs is already behind schedule and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has so far complained over the same, terming it illegal.

The National Police Service Commission nominated three candidates each for the positions of Inspector General of Police, two deputies and CID.

Kimaiyo emerged the best followed by his deputy at the Kenya National Focal Point Mr John Ochieng while Kenya Airports Police Unit boss Grace Kaindi was third.

Muhoro emerged the best for Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Kenya Police followed by Railways CID boss Judy Ndeda Chebet while former Police Spokesman Jasper Ombati was third.

Arachi emerged the best in the category of those who were interviewed for the position of the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration Police and was followed by Gideon Kimilu while Mr David Ngondi was third.

In CID, Muhoro was ranked first followed by his deputy Kimilu and Kaol came third.

An informed source said regional representation followed by gender informed the selection.

If Parliament approves the names of the nominees for the IG it will mean the coming March 4 General Election will be held under new police bosses.