Police team promotes senior officers

A number of senior police officers have been promoted ahead of a planned new scheme of service.

Those who benefited include deputy principal assistant to the Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Kingori Mwangi, head of operations Benson Kibui- Kenya Police, head of operations at Administration Police Peter Pamba and General Service Unit commandant Stephen Chelimo, who will be promoted to Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Nairobi police commander Japheth Koome is among those promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG).

But a meeting of National Police Service Commission had initially rejected the list of Kenya Police officers proposed for the rank of AIG due to gender and national imbalance.

Those in the list for the rank of AIG in the Kenya Police include Noor Gabow, Patrick Obimo, Henry Barmao, Edward Mwmburi, Daniel Kibenei, Solomon Makau and Peter Mwanzia. Others are Julius Kitili, John Ngui Mwinzi, Gabriel Musau, Samuel Kimaru, Joseph Kodi, Titus Muvea, Douglas Kanja and Eunice Kihoko.

The commission, however, asked that the list be amended.

Those promoted to the rank of AIG at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations include Gideon Kibunja, Samuel Nyabengi, Michael Barasa, Francis Njiru, Henry Ondiek and Peris Muthoni, Ambrose Munyasia, Pius Macharia, John Gachomo, Sospeter Mwinyi, David Cheruiyot and Charles Muthusi.

The commission met to consider the new list from Kenya Police and Administration Police among other issues. The promotions have been pending for long affecting progress in the service.

A new scheme to be launched next month has abolished the rank of Commissioner of Police and replaced it with that of Principal Superintendent of Police to avoid the current confusion over the highest rank in the defunct Kenya Police Force.

The new scheme of service to be launched in September will have 14 police grades.

"This means police officers will forthwith enjoy salaries and allowances commensurate with what their colleagues  serving in the civil service get," the team said.