Joseph Boinett vetted, pledges to step up crime war

Kenya: Inspector General of Police nominee Joseph Boinett was vetted yesterday. The joint sitting of the security committees of the Senate and National Assembly posed a range of questions, including how Mr Boinett will rid the service of corruption, impunity, drug trafficking, terrorism and proliferation of firearms.

The issue of parallel command control, leadership gaps, institutional fights and actualisation of intelligence reports featured strongly, as MPs sought assurance from Boinett that he was equal to the task.

He told the vetting body he would employ his background in police, intelligence and diplomatic world to step up the fight against crime. "I will serve as the bridge between the intelligence service, where I have served and the police, which I am also qualified in, to ensure that intelligence reports are acted upon promptly to quell crime. In the event that my officers will be unable to get assistance, I will step in because I know how to get these reports," he said.

Though the two committees will retreat to Boma Inn Hotel over the weekend to prepare a report, to be tabled in both Houses, they are expected to check on issues raised regarding his academic credentials.