Karen is upgraded to full division, gets new OCPD in bid to tame rising crime

Karen police station in Nairobi has been upgraded to a full division and a new OCPD posted there in changes announced.

Kayole deputy OCPD Eshiphan Gichohi has been promoted and named the OCPD in a move seen as part of efforts to tame rising incidents of crime.

The area has been experiencing rising cases of armed robberies and burglaries that left at least four guards dead.

Elsewhere, several areas that have been under Kasarani division in Nairobi have been hived to Kiambu County. The areas include Kahawa West, Githurai 44, Kenyatta University, Maziwa, Kiamumbi, Kiwanja, Kamae and Njathaini.

This has caused confusion amongst many officers and residents who don’t know where to report to. The areas are densely populated and are among those affected by rising armed crime.

Meanwhile, 32 officers of the rank of chief inspector have been moved in changes announced by the National Police Service Commission.

Officers Commanding Station (OCSs) for Kileleshwa, Pangani, and Wajir are among those moved.

In the changes, Daniel Chirchir was named the head of traffic Kilimani Division, Festus Maingi (Makadara) while Fredrick Simiyu will be posted to Langata office, Era Ngambi (Mai Mahiu), Mildred Achoki (Kasarani) and Lazarus Akello (Kiambu).

More changes are expected in the top leadership of the service after Parliament approved miscellaneous laws touching on gender. The gender rule does not apply in the amended law.

The law is waiting for the presidential assent. It also gives the president free hand to appoint the Deputy Inspector General of police and the Director of Criminal Investigations on advice of the commission.

The commission does not need advertise for the positions and needs to identify and advise the president on the suitable candidates.

This means the president can remove the holders of the offices at will. There has been criticism the changes are illegal and go against the spirit of the constitution.