Kisumu police commander Nelson Njiri moved in changes, replaced by Titus Yoma

Kisumu County Police Commander Nelson Mugweru Njiri moved to the Kenya Airports Authority as the general manager for security

Kisumu County Police Commander Nelson Mugweru Njiri has been promoted and moved in changes that affect other senior officers.

The transfer of Mr Njiri came on the heels of the killing of a protester in the recent anti-IEBC protests in the area.

Njiri has been moved to the Kenya Airports Authority as the general manager for security to replace Eric Kiraithe, who was recently named the Government spokesman.

Police headquarters said Njiri’s transfer was not prompted by the shooting as the changes had been determined long before the incident happened.

Police reportedly shot dead a protester in the demos but denied he had died after being hit by a blunt object.

The denials were rubbished by an autopsy report that showed Fredrick Otieno died after being shot.

The report showed one bullet entered Otieno’s body through the upper left arm, ripped through his thorax, tore vital blood vessels, collapsed his lung and lodged in his upper right arm.

The May 23 incident prompted calls for action on those responsible, including the commander.

In the changes announced by police headquarters on Friday, Mwea East Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Titus Yoma was promoted and named the Kisumu County Commander while Athi River OCPD Kizito Mutoro was transferred to Mwea East in the same capacity.

REVAMP TRAINING

The new Athi River OCPD is Sharma Boy while Aron Moriasi was moved from Ijara to Samia as the division boss.

More changes are expected in the coming days ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Meanwhile, five senior officers have been moved to Kiganjo Police Training College in a bid to boost training there.

They include Nairobi deputy police boss Patrick Mwakio, Tharaka-Nithi Police Commander Johnstone Ipara, Kisii Central OCPD Tom Mutisya, Richard Ngetich of Kiambu division and Lamu County Police Commander Leonard Omollo.

There are plans to revamp training at the police colleges.

Police training has been questioned on several occasions over the manner in which the service handles various issues including crime scenes, riots and general work.

There have been calls for a change in the police training curriculum to address the issues.