Massa Hamisi: Profile of man replacing Kinoti as DCI chief in acting capacity

Massa Hamisi, a career detective, is scheduled for retirement in December 2022. Courtesy]

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has appointed Massa Hamisi Salim as the interim Director of the Criminal Investigations.

Massa replaces George Kinoti who resigned on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, after four years at the helm of the investigative agency.

"The National Police Service Commission appoints Massa Hamisi Salim as the Director [of] Criminal Investigations in an acting capacity until the position is filled substantively and competitively in at least 14 days' time," the commission said in a press statement on Thursday, September 29.

Prior to his appointment as the interim DCI chief, Massa was George Kinoti's deputy.

He is a career investigator, who has served in various positions in the Police Service.

He previously led the anti-narcotics unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

At one point in his longstanding career, he served as the commandant of the Kenya Police Dog Unit.

Massa will be ineligible to succeed Kinoti as Kenya's 16th DCI director as he is scheduled for retirement from the Police Service on December 25, 2022.

On Thursday, the National Police Service Commission advertised a vacancy in the position of the Director of the DCI, saying interested Kenyans have up to October 6, 2022, to submit their applications.

The immediate former holder of the office, George Kinoti, had a run-in with President William Ruto, who accused the DCI chief of weaponising the war on graft and other crimes to target his allies in the run-up to the August 9, 2022, General Election.

At one time Kinoti kicked up a storm when he talked of reviving investigations of the 2008 post-election violence after which he was reprimanded by President Uhuru Kenyatta.