By Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi, Kenya: Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has appointed 47 County CID Commanders in changes that saw Nicholas Kamwende retained as the chief detective for Nairobi County.
The appointment of the CID bosses came hours after he appointed Police County Commanders in the same capacity.
The new commanders include Scavier Mbogo (Nakuru), John Maritim (Embu), Henry Ondiek (Mombasa), Bernard Mate (Kiambu), Stanley Cheruiyot (Kisumu), Samuel Nyabengi (Nyeri), Mary Kaol (Baringo), Emanuel Kenga (Vihiga) and Gabriel Mbuvi (Nyandarua).
The changes also saw Moses Dindi named Isiolo CID commander, Iregi Ngatia (Kajiado), Peter Mabeya (Bungoma), Festus Malinge (Kisii), Musa Yego (Garissa), Stanley Wandera (Bomet), Julius Rutere (Kirinyaga), Julius Sunkuli (Kitui), Pius Macharia (Machakos), Danson Diru (Kericho), Michael Baraza (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Joseph Koin (Meru).
Others include Peter Muinde (Tharaka Nithi) John Otieno (Mandera), Baraza Warumori (Marsabit), Abdi Salat (Lamu), Joseph Nganga (Nandi), Michael Mugo (Samburu), Joshua Bosire (Kilifi), J Mbaruku (Nyamira), Joseph Teben (Busia), Patrick Ndeto (Kwale), Joseph Chacha (Wajir), Vitalis Okumu (Interpol), Joseph Ngisa (Airports), Violet Makhanu (Migori), Joseph Mugwanja(Banking Fraud) and Judy Ndeda (Railways).
All PPOs, and their deputies have been recalled to Nairobi where they will join Provincial Commissioners as regional commanders and will be based at the NHIF Building.
CID director Ndegwa Muhoro is said to have campaigned for the PCIOs to be appointed back to the field instead of being redeployed together with the PPOs
Kimaiyo had earlier told a meeting in the city that he has asked the National Police Service Commission to establish County Policing Authority a command, which will include County Kenya Police Service Commanding Officers, County Administration Police Commanding Officers and Criminal Investigations Officers.
It is not clear why he chose to do the appointments, which is the prerequisite of the commission.
Failure to deploy police commanders to the Counties has been cited as part of the causes of insecurity across the country.
The appointment seem to go against the one planned by the commission which had advertised the positions and sought that qualified officers apply for them in accordance with the law.
The commission planned to recruit 94 commanders for both regular and Administration Police. Officials said the police boss was also in the process of appointing AP commanders.
Kimaiyo had opposed the move by the commission saying it was against their norm in which he is the one to appoint the commanders and forwards the names to the commission for approval.
But the commission, in which Kimaiyo is a member, says the law has since changed and that the work of appointment, recruitment and transfer is their mandate.
The commission is set to meet on Monday to discuss the move by the police boss who is also a member.
The move is part of a directive that was given by President Uhuru Kenyatta who ordered that all provincial commanders be redeployed.
PCs have been the chairmen of the Provincial Security and Intelligence Committees (PSIC) with the PPOs and PCIOs attending to discuss security matters.
