Police Service Commission declares police chiefs’ positions vacant

The National Police Service Commission has advertised the positions of the new bosses.

The commission wants to fill the positions competitively, according to the law.

Those seeking the office of deputy inspector general of police and the deputy of the Administration Police boss have to be a serving police officers of the rank of assistant inspector general and above.

The new commanders - Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Maingi Kinoti, Noor Gabow of Administration Police, and Edward Mbugua of Kenya Police Service - are in office in an acting capacity after their appointment last Friday.

Those interested in the positions have until January 15 to send their applications to the commission.

For the deputy inspector general of police position, one must be the holder a degree from a recognised university in Kenya or equivalent qualification and have served in public service for at least 15 years. The candidate must also have knowledge of the criminal justice system, policy development, security, law, and sociology.

The law was amended in 2015 to remove the mandatory requirement of a degree. Parliament introduced the clause of an alternative – equivalent qualification.

For the position of director of DCI, even civilians can apply as long as they have 10 years of experience and criminal investigations or policing.

The law was changed to allow the President to remove police bosses. For instance, the law says whenever a vacancy arises in the office of the director of criminal investigations, the President shall, within 14 days, appoint a suitable person to serve as director.