Three more interviewed for top police job

Interviews for the Inspector General of Police entered the second day on Saturday where three other candidates were interviewed.

Those interviewed included Deputy Commandant of the Kenya Police College, Kiganjo, Mr Joseph Henry Ashimalla, Mr David Kimaiyo of the Small Arms Secretariat and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Engineer John Patrick Ochieng Owino.

Mr Kimaiyo, a former director of operations at the police headquarters, was put to task over the 2007/2008 post-election violence when he headed the operations. Mr Kimaiyo admitted that police were almost overwhelmed but maintained that they did their best.

He said that lack of adequate personnel and equipment could have hindered police effectiveness.

He said that if appointed, he would ensure the service is well equipped and the officers motivated. He noted that ethnic imbalance was a serious issue in the force but said he would tackle it at the recruitment level.

Mr Kimaiyo also said he had drafted the policy on small arms that was with the Cabinet. The policy paper aims at reviewing the Firearms Act with a view to coming up with stiffer penalties for gun-related offences.

While in the service, Mr Kimaiyo pursued a degree in Arts and Masters of Arts in Criminology. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Criminology.

Mr Kimaiyo joined the police service in 1979 at the age of 19 and rose through the ranks to Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police. He has served in Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Egerton University where he was seconded as the chief security officer.

He has also served as the Commandant of both the GSU and the Presidential Escort Unit. Between 2003 and 2008, he was the Director of Police Operations at Vigilance House.

The former Rift Valley PPO, Mr Joseph Henry Ashimalla, who is now the Deputy Commandant Kenya Police College where he was transferred in June 2009, said his first assignment would be to ensure that the forthcoming General Election is peaceful.

He was put to task to explain why the police were not able to contain the violence in Kisumu and the greater Rift Valley where he served as the Deputy PPO.

Mr Ochieng, a management scientist, said his priority would be to equip the police force and put up proper structures to guide the promotion, transfer and training of officers.

“The rate of acquittals in courts is worrying and I intend to strengthen investigations. He said he had worked at strategic, tactical and operational levels in the field of operations management, corporate governance, aviation safety and security, and aircraft maintenance engineering.

He is currently attached to the National Focal Point on Small Arms.

The commission will on Monday interview police spokesman Eric Kiraithe, Interpol boss Mary Kaol and Peter Mwangi Macharia of the Witness Protection Unit.