Commanders were raised in low class estates

By Cyrus Ombati

Most of the newly appointed police commanders were born and brought up in Nairobi’s Eastlands.

While rising through ranks, the commanders served in various posts in Nairobi, mainly Eastlands.

Many see their appointment as a strategy of ensuring the city does not become a den for criminals.

For instance, the new Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Omondi Okonya was born and brought up in Ziwani.

He once headed the Flying Squad, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Banking Fraud Investigations Unit and later became the Deputy Director of CID.

The deputy PPO, Nairobi, Police Command Julius Kangara Ndegwa, who was promoted to be Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police II in charge of operations at police head quarters, was brought up in the same area.

Ndegwa has served in various capacities in Nairobi and was once in the list of officers ‘wanted’ by the Mungiki sect because of the manner he dealt with them when he was in charge of operations in Nairobi. He contained the sect activities and many believe he will handle his docket.

He was once shot and wounded in a suspected Mungiki attack at the Globe Cinema roundabout.

"The combination of the new officers is good because they are all operational, investigative oriented and open to criticism," said one officer.

CID Director Gatiba Karanja was born in Bahati Estate and, according to many, he and his team will succeed in their mandates. His former boss, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, described him as one of the best detectives the force has. Gatiba has also served as PPO Coast and commandant of Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

Former North Eastern PPO Jonathan Kipkurui Koskei, who was posted at police headquarters to be Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police II, in charge of Reforms in the Kenya Police, had also served as the Nairobi PPO.

Reform oriented

He is the chairman of Kenya Police Sports team and many term him as a reform-oriented officer.

"Given support, he can spearhead the much-needed reforms in the force. He is good at his work," said another officer who served under him when he was OCS at Kamukunji Police Station, Nairobi. In the appointments, President Kibaki transferred the commandant of Kenya Police Training College Bakari Omar Jambeni to Police Headquarters to be Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police II, in charge of Logistics.

Mr Jambeni was born and brought up in Majengo. Many believe the names were arrived at after a sub committee for police reforms at the Office of the President looked at those proposed and forwarded them.

It is not clear why Kibaki chose to announce the appointments himself. Previously, he appointed the Police Commissioner and left the rest to him.