MP Samuel Chepkonga wants special House session for IG approval

Nominee for Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett.

National Assembly Departmental Committee on Legal Affairs Chairman Samuel Chepkonga wants the House to convene a special sitting to approve the nomination of new Inspector General of Police.

Mr Chepkonga says the approval of Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett as IG should be expedited to allow the new police chief to settle down and start his work immediately.

Although Parliament is on Christmas recess till late February, the MP says Speaker Justin Muturi should convene a special sitting for the sole purpose of approving the IG nominee.

Chepkonga, who is also Ainabkoi MP, lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto for picking the career policeman for the top job. Mr Boinett hails from Chepkonga’s constituency.

ASTUTE OFFICER

“On behalf of myself as MP and residents of Ainabkoi, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the President and his Deputy for identifying an astute and distinguished career civil servant who has served his country in various capacities,” said Chepkonga.

He told The Standard in a phone interview that having known Boinett for very many years, he was convinced the nominee was the right man since he is a strategist.

“It’s without doubt that this is a man who will serve his country with courage, dedication and responsibility,” he said.

Boinett is currently the National Intelligence Service Principal Intelligence Officer based at the headquarters in Ruaraka. His nomination followed the resignation of former IG David Kimaiyo on December 2.

Boinett, 52, joined the police service in 1984 and rose through the ranks to become a Senior Superintendent of Police. He was then transferred to the National Intelligence Service in 1998. He is also a nephew of former National Security Intelligence Service Director General Wilson Boinett.

Boinett, holds two masters degrees – one in security policy from the Australian National Security University and another in diplomatic studies from the University of Westminister.

He also holds a degree in International Studies and diplomacy from Washington University and other qualifications in Strategic, Public Management and Leadership Development.

He will have to be approved by the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution before he is appointed IG.

Boinett once served as a protocol officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until late 2013 when he went to Australia for his master’s studies.