Kimaiyo names 47 County AP Commanders

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has named 47 Administration PoliceCounty Commanders amid protests he is overstepping his mandate.

This brings to 141 the number of County Police Commanders appointed ahead of planned devolution after he earlier on named regular police and CID commanders.

But some members of the National Police Service Commission have faulted Kimaiyo’s move terming it unconstitutional.

The commission met without Kimaiyo and his deputies who are members but the resolution of the meeting were not made public.

They later met interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku to register their concerns. Lenku toldThe Standard he would hold a press conference later on Monday to give his stand.

The officials cited section 246 of the constitution which says the commission shall recruit and appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the service, confirm appointments and determine promotions and transfers within the National Police Service.

The Commission may, however, delegate to the concerned Inspector General the recruitment, appointment and promotion of police officers under the rank of sergeant.

It will also interview persons for purposes of filling vacancies in the service taking into consideration gender, county and ethnic balancing.

But in a twist of events, Kimaiyo named the commanders and ordered them to report immediately.

In the new AP commanders, Kimaiyo named Francis Mburu for Nairobi County, Joseph Keitany (Machakos), Rashid Yakub (Lamu), Njiru Dickson (Transzoia), Joseph Mwaniki (Bomet), Doson Manzi (Homabay), Samuel Kimwere (Kajiado), Agustus Muthee (Garrisa), Dismus Nyakundi (Kiambu), Josephat Kinyua (Muranga) and Albert Hama (Mandera).

Others are Suleiman Rashid (Kirinyaga), Kuno Abdulahi (Kitui), Roba Jaro (Makueni), Daud Mohamed (Mombasa), Paul Soi (Bungoma), Karimbo Mwandoe (Nyamira), James Akoru (Kisii), Elisha Ngetich (Kilifi), Stephen Mwinzi (Busia), Elijah Odhiambo (Baringo), R. Kerich (Narok), J. Mativo (Taita Taveta), S. Sohera (Kericho), R. Kirathe (Nakuru), J. Ajuoga (Marsabit), M. Mukiri (Isiolo) and Joseph Onyango (Kakamega).

They also include Mark Almaa (Migori), R. Bashane (Tharaka Nithi), C. Naibei (Vihiga), J. Atinda (Kisumu), C. Mwaniki (Tana River) and Joseph Ouna (Kwale) and  Michael Murage (Siaya).

Failure to deploy police commanders to the counties has been cited as one of the causes of insecurity across the country.

The appointment seem to go against the one planned by the commission which had advertised the positions and sought that qualified officers apply for them in accordance with the law.

The commission planned to recruit 94 commanders for both regular andAdministration Police.

Kimaiyo had opposed the move by the commission saying it was against their norm in which he is the one to appoint the commanders and forwards the names to the commission for approval.

But the commission, in which Kimaiyo is a member, says the law has since changed and that the work of appointment, recruitment and transfer is their mandate.

The move is part of a directive that was given by President Uhuru Kenyatta who ordered that all provincial commanders be redeployed.

PCs have been the chairmen of the Provincial Security and Intelligence Committees (PSIC) with the PPOs and PCIOs attending to discuss security matters.