Change of guard in Kenya's Police force

• An early morning meeting between Kibaki and Raila culminates in President calling Ali and ordering him to fall out amid clamour for major reforms in the Police Force

At the same time, officers close to Maj-Gen Ali told the Nation that he had betrayed no signs that he would leave office that soon, after nearly six years in charge.

The officers, who cannot be named lest they are seen to breach official procedures, said his office was preparing a series of activities that would see him appear in the media to argue against some of the recommendations made in the Justice Ransley report on police reforms.

Last week, he appeared for interviews in two broadcast programmes.

The debate on Maj-Gen Ali’s replacement gained momentum as the exit became imminent, following the release of the interim report recommending a purge on police leadership by the taskforce headed by retired judge Philip Ransley.

It was the Ransley report, more than anything else, according to the OP official, that convinced Mr Kibaki of the need for immediate change.

He said Maj-Gen Ali had “overstayed” and that the six years he had spent at Vigilance House was a “very, very long time” for a police commissioner in the multi-party era.

Other changes in the force saw Mr Julius Ndegwa promoted two ranks up to become one of other police commissioner’s deputies in charge of operations.

Mr Jonathan Kipkurui Koskei, who was in charge of North Eastern Province was also promoted to a senior deputy Commissioner of Police II, and appointed to oversee police reforms.

The changes also saw Mr Bakari Omar Jambeni called from the police training college at Kiganjo, to take charge of logistics at Vigilance House.

The position was held by Mr Levin Mwandi, whose fate is unknown.

Mr Jambeni’s position was taken by Mr Peter Kavila, who until Tuesday had been the Director of Operations at police headquarters.

Mr Peter Eregai, who was recently brought back to police from the National Focal Point on Small Arms, was deployed as deputy Director of the CID.

Maj-Gen Ali described his tenure as tumultuous and noted that it would take a long time for the country to get an ideal police force.

Mr Iteere on the other hand said he intended to reduce crime by 30 per cent, with public assistance.

Maj-Gen Ali handed over to his successor at 3pm and said he took pride in what he did during his tenure.