New line up: Seven women land top police command

Interior Ministry CS Fred Matiang’i (left) chats with Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet (right) at the Flamingo PrideInn Beach Resort where they released a new police command line up. [Gideon Maundu, Standard]

Seven women were named County Police Commanders in a line up unveiled in Mombasa.

Of these Naomi Ichami will be in Bomet County, Leah Ngutu (Kirinyaga), Beatrice Gachago (Kajiado), Lydia Ligami (Kitui), Adan Hassan Yunis (Narok), Esther Seroney (Homa Bay) and Wilkister Vera (Kakamega).

The county commanders together with the earlier unveiled Regional Commanders and Regional Commissioners are set to meet president Kenyatta in Mombasa Tuesday for briefing. The president is set to set his security agenda then.

Administration Police Service (APS) got 17 slots, DCI five and Kenya Police Service (KPS) 24.

Nairobi has a new head of operations Jackson Tumwet who will work under Philip Ndolo.

Other commanders named include Adiel Nyange (Kiambu), Joseph Nthenge (Migori), Johnson Ipara (Mombasa), Francis Sang (Bungoma), James Mugera (Kericho), Dr Gideon Ngumi (Nyandarua), Perminus Nyaga (Lamu), Ayub Gitonga (Trans Nzoia), Joseph Napeiyan (Makueni) and Hassan Barua (Vihiga).

Patrick Okeri goes to Kilifi, Fred Ochieng (Tana River), Ali Nuno (Nyeri), Stephene Ngetich (Wajir), Augustine Nthumbi (Uasin Gishu), Tom Odero (Kwale), Mathew Kuto (West Pokot), Josphat Kinyua (Muranga), Martin Kibet (Kisii), Danie Rukunga (Embu), Charles Mbatu (Tharaka Nithi), Patrick Ombura (Meru), Maxwel Nyaema (Laikipia) and Joseph Kigen (Isiolo).

Benson Maweu will go to Kisumu, John Muiruri (Samburu), Francis Kooli (Siaya), Samuel Ndanyi (Turkana), Jeremiah Kassiom (Mandera), Robinson Ndiwa (Baringo), John Nyoike (Busia), Alfred Angengo (Garissa), Said Kiprotich (Taita Taveta), Stephen Matu (Nakuru), Mohamed Maalim (Machakos), Steven Oloo (Marsabit), Ken Kimani (Marakwet) and Thomas Ngeiywa (Nandi).

The regional commanders include Philip Ndolo (Nairobi), Marcus Ochola (Coast), Eunice Kihiko (Eastern), Judy Jebet Lamet (Central), Edward Mwamburi (Rift Valley), Paul Soi (North Eastern), Vincent Makokha (Nyanza) and Rashid Yakub (Western).

The new changes began with the change of the command structure with the collapse of parallel commanders for the APS, KPS and DCI all of the same rank thus making overall command challenging.

The service has been having Assistant Inspector General (AIGs) of the same rank as commanders for regional APS, KPS and DCI commands Commissioners of Police as county commanders for APS, KPS and DCI and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) at Sub County level.

All hierarchy has been removed and there is one senior commander at all levels with the rest a rank junior than the commander.

Although there will still be senior DCI officers at all levels of command, they will be one rank below their General Duty commander.

And all AP camps far from police stations will be transformed into police posts and stations.

All Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) KPS officers have been moved to APS which has been left with four units including ASTU, Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Rural Border Patrol Unit (RBPU) and Critical Infrastructure and Security of Government Buildings unit.

All specialized unit officers who include ASTU, RDU RBPU are being issued with General Service Unit (GSU) like combat uniform as their operational clothing while general duty officers will have the new blue uniforms.
While the specialized units will have the same operation area uniform whose role out is immediate, the general duty uniform will be rolled out gradually because of the huge number of those involved.

Already National Youth Service is making the police uniforms.

Officials say huge camps accommodating more than 200 officers are being established along border points between Mandera, and Lamu making them war fronts.

Further, General Duty police posts with less than ten officers and which have been targets for Al Shabaab terrorist at the main border are being relocated further inside to serve citizens.

And to reduce wastage, it has been resolved that most of the 3200 leased police vehicles will be available for patrol following the Presidential directive to reduce wastage.

Initially, senior police officers kept vehicles for themselves leaving very few for general duties.

For instance, a review of use of leased vehicles established that 78 leased cars and a similar number of drivers had been allocated to senior police officers in Kiambu and its 12 sub counties leaving very few for patrol.
Of the 3200 leased vehicles, only less that one thousand were available for general duty and patrol countrywide.