Top police officers apply for inspector general position

By Paul Gitau

The Dozens of people with a military or police background have applied for the job of leading the National Police Service, indicating strong interest.

Applicants for the positions of Inspector General and two deputies have until Monday, to get in their papers. Many have, however, already completed the process ahead of time. Informed sources say the drop-off box for applications at the Public Service Commission offices is full with dozens delivering their papers on Friday.

Several serving and retired officers were in the past week seen at the offices of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Higher Education Loans Board, the Credit Reference Bureau, and the Criminal Investigations Department seeking clearance and papers. While some went in person, others sent aides or junior officers to complete the tasks.

Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere has applied for a Certificate of Good Conduct from the CID, indicating he may put in an application. By last evening, however, it was not clear if he had applied for any of the positions. Last year, there were reports that Iteere, like then Administration Police Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua, would not be in the race for the new position. Mbugua has since quit the force and joined politics.

Deputy Police Commissioner Grace Kaindi, the commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, has applied to be Deputy Inspector General. Senior Assistant Commissioner Mary Kaol (Interpol), and Railways Police boss Judy Ndeda are said to have applied.

Others who have applied include Deputy Police Commissioner Francis Okonya, CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro, his predecessor Joseph Kamau, and Deputy Head of the CID Training School Maurice Amatta. Former PC Hassan Noor Hassan, Central PC Kiplimo Rugut, Head of Investigations Mohamed Amin, deputy CID director Gideon Kimilu, former AP Commandant George McGoye, and acting AP commandant Samuel Arachi have also applied for one of the positions, officials close to them said.

Deputy AP commandant Omar Shurie and head of personnel at AP Eusebius Laibuta are also among officers who have applied to lead their forces. Senior Superintendent of Police Zipporah Gateria Mboroki, former police spokesman Jasper Ombati, and former director of police operations David Kimaiyo put in applications.

Others include police spokesman Eric Kiraithe, the Deputy Director of Police Reforms King’ori Mwangi, Patrick Obimo of Loresho College and deputy director, planning, Japheth Koome. Others are Gideon Gachago (Police Dog Unit), Charles Momanthi (Head of Training), and John Mutua, the head of CID Legal and Criminal Affairs.

Officers who talked to The Standard On Saturday said a requirement that the Inspector General be appointed for only a single four-year term has discouraged some qualified applicants.  “Many people have applied for the positions despite the requirement that they serve for a four-year one term. They have picked documents ready for the applications,” said a senior officer conversant with the operations.

One of the deputies will lead the regular force, while the other will be in charge of the Administration Police.  The National Police Service Commission left open chances of a civilian to lead the police force. One of the three posts will go to the opposite gender.

Those seeking to be IG, must hold a degree from a recognised university in Kenya, be Kenyans with knowledge and experience in criminal justice or policy development and implementation, finance and public administration, security, law, sociology or government.