Eight police bosses fight for DIG Job beginning today

As Kenyans await the appointment of Inspector General of Police, eight senior officers want to be deputies of the holder of that office that fell vacant following the resignation of Japhet Koome.

Pursuant to Section 13 and 14 of the National Police Service Act No.11A of 2011 (Revised 2017), the National Police Service Commission, on July 13, invited applications for the two positions of Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Service and Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Service.

The position of DIG Kenya Police Service attracted 28 applicants, and George Adero Sedah, Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, Tom Mboya Odero and Dr Vincent Kinas Makokha made it to the shortlist.

Gilbert Masengeli, Margaret Nyambura Karanja, James Mukuha Kamau and Masoud Mwinyi (Phd) are among the 13 shortlisted to head the Administration Police Service unit.

Out of the eight officers who will appear for interviews at Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete Campus in Nairobi today, two will be selected for appointment to head the two Services.

Currently, Lagat is the acting DIG for Kenya Police Service having taken over from Douglas Kanja Kirocho who is the acting Inspector General (IG) following Koome’s exit, while Kamau is in charge of Administration Police Service in an acting capacity after Noor Gabow was redeployed to the Public Service.

Changes at the top of National Police Service (NPS), which comprise Kenya Police and Administration Police were made by President William Ruto on July 12. Patrick Mwiti Arandu was appointed Commissioner General of Kenya Prisons Service replacing Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba, who is on terminal leave.

The reorganisation at the top was effected following pressure on Koome to quit after he was accused of mishandling the anti-government protests that have so far claimed at least 50 lives.

Under Koome’s watch, police were accused of using excessive force on protestors resulting in preventable deaths and injuries had caution and restraint prevailed.

Following the deaths mostly resulting from bullet wounds, and abductions of protestors, pressure mounted the IG to be removed from the position for allowing his officers to act contrary to the law that calls for the protection of life and property.

Politicians and human rights lobby groups demanded for Koome’s sacking accusing the police chief of disrespecting civil liberties and rule of law.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, senators Bonny Khalwale of Kakamega, Enock Wambua (Kitui) and Nandi’s Samson Cherargei are among the politicians who wanted Koome fired.

Speaking at the KICC when President Ruto assented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bill, 2024, Kalonzo told the President to ask Koome to resign and take responsibility for the deaths of Kenyans who lost their lives because they were exercising their constitutional rights to peaceably assemble, demonstrate and picket.

“Talking about incompetence and lack of capacity, the Inspector General of Police is the embodiment of lack of capacity to lead the Kenya Police Service. Mr Koome must leave office immediately for this country to enjoy peace and tranquillity,” said Wambua in the Senate.

When Sedah, Lagat, Odera, Dr Makokha, Masengeli, Nyambura, Kamau and Mwinyi appeared before the interviewing panel, the senior officers will outline their plans for redeeming the tainted image of police accused of gross human rights violations.

Sedah

Currently Coast Regional Police Commander, the Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG) has been in the service for the last 32 years having been recruited as a General Service Unit (GSU) officer. He has a diploma in crime management and prevention from Kenyatta University, Bachelor of Arts in security studies and criminology from Mount Kenya University where he is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in security studies and criminology.

Sedah has undergone various trainings including advanced VIP protection and platoon commanders’ course while serving in different stations and positions. He has served as the co-ordinator Operation Amani Boni enclave, director National Police Reservist (NPR), director Inspections at Kenya Police Service, North Eastern Regional Police Commander, Mandera County Police Commander, Dagoretti Sub County Police Commander, Kajiado Officer Police Commanding Division, Mumias Officer Commanding Police Division, Staff Officer Operations – Residential Escort Unit, and Officer Commanding Highridge Camp among other roles.

Lagat

An explosives expert, who headed the Bomb and Disposal Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) where he was in charge of reforms and complaints, the acting DIG has rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG).

Before he moved to Vigilance House, the police headquarters where he is currently the acting DIG, Lagat an alma mater of National Defence College, is the immediate former GSU Commandant having been appointed to the position in April last year. He briefly served as the second in command at DCI where he worked for several years gaining immense experience.

Odero

The AIG has a distinguished career spanning three decades, having worked his way up from the lowest ranks to his current position. A holder of sociology degree from Egerton University, Odero has undergone various security-related courses.

He started serving as a General Duty officer in Lamu beforemoving to Bamburi where he was in charge of the anti-crime branch. He has been a long-time instructor at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, and OCPD in in Mombasa, Meru, North Horr, and Mbeere. He has also been a county police commander in Kajiado, Marakwet, and Kwale.

Further he was seconded to the African Union Mission in Darfur, Western Sudan, during the notorious Janjaweed conflicts as a sector commander. In 2019, he was appointed Chief Liaison Officer at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, a role he held until 2022, when he became the Rift Valley Regional Commander before being transferred recently to Vigilance House in a new role as Liaison Officer. This will be his second attempt at becoming DIG.

Makokha

With about 34 years serving the police Dr Makokha is currently the director Chaplaincy, Counseling and Psycho-Social Support at Kenya Police Service where he has also served as Director of National Police Reserve, and Nyanza Regional Police Commander.

Previously, he served in the Administration Police having been enlisted in 1991. He rose through the ranks becoming Administration Police Central Regional Commander between May 2018 to January 2019.

Initially, he was Administration Police director of Planning, Research and External Linkages as well as serving as Administration Police Training College, deputy chief Chaplain and director of Curriculum Development and evaluation from 2008 to 2013.

The AIG holds PhD in Public Administration from Kazian School of Management in India, and another PhD in Religion from Laikipia University. Dr Makokha has a Master’s in Governance from Catholic University of East Africa, Master of Business Administration (Bosco University), Master of Arts Biblical and Theological Studies (International Leadership University), post graduate certificate in Leadership and Management (Laikipia University), Bachelor of Arts in Theology (University of Nigeria - Nsukka) and a diploma in Community Policing and Problem Based Learning from Linnaeus University of Sweden. He also has a diploma in Leadership from F L. University in USA and another diploma in Bible and Theology, Bethany Christian College.

Masengeli

The Israel trained commando who served as Commanding Officer of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Border Patrol Unit is currently the Commandant National Police Service College Embakasi A Campus. He also trained in the USA a bomb technician.

The AIG has been a police for the last 35 years during with he has served in different capacities and roles. He was the Commanding Officer Special Border Operations, Company Commander - Border Police Unit, Commander Forward Operating Base (FOB) North Eastern region.

A holder of Master of Science Security and Forensics Management degree from Dedan Kimathi University, Masengeli is an operations man who is currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations at United States International University-Africa.

He studied Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Security Management at Dedan Kimathi University and has a diploma in Criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice besides undertaking various professional courses.      

Nyambura

A lawyer by profession, Nyambura quit the Bar as High Court advocate and joined the Administration Police in 2006 where she has rose through the ranks to AIG. She was instrumental in setting up the legal department which is responsible for imparting legal knowledge in recruits undergoing training.               

Kamau

The SAIG has served in Administration Police Service for the last 34 years taking over different roles including instructor at Administration Police Training College, director of studies at National Police Senior Staff College – Emali where he was promoted to the position of deputy Commandant  before being transferred to National Police Service College Embakasi A Campus as the Commandant, a position he held until few days as when he was moved and appointed acting DIG for Administration Police after the holder, Noor Gabow, was deployed to Public Service.  

Kamau is a degree holder in Criminology and Security Studies from Mount Kenya University. Before rising through the ranks he served as a General Duty officer as well at the Security for Government Buildings Unit.

Dr Mwinyi

After joining the Service in 1986, Dr Mwinyi has served for 38 year amassing a wealth of experience, and rising to his current rank of SAIG. Over the years, he has served in various capacities in the Service including Police Spokesman, director of Complaints, director of Community Police and director of Logistics as well as at Administration Police Training College and SGB both as a junior and senior officer.

Mwinyi has a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies, a Master of Science in Governance, Peace and Security as well as PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies. He has also received further professional training locally and overseas, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Finland and Ireland among others.