House teams clear Boinett for police job
President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulates the appointed nominee Inspector General Mr Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett at State House, Nairobi. Mr Boinett has been serving in the intelligence service for the last 16 years. PHOTO | PSCU
What you need to know:
- This came after the committee found out that despite not being accredited by US regulatory bodies, the university where Mr Boinett obtained his first degree is recognised by Unesco.
- Their recommendation, which was in reports tabled simultaneously in both the Senate and National Assembly yesterday afternoon, was preceded by an interrogation of the chief executive of the Council of University Education.
- Of the 11 who did not sign, seven attended the meeting but did not append their signatures, suggesting there was disagreement within the joint committee.
A joint parliamentary committee on Tuesday recommended the approval of the nomination of Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett as the next Inspector-General of Police.
This came after the committee found out that despite not being accredited by US regulatory bodies, the university where Mr Boinett obtained his first degree is recognised by Unesco.
The committee is made up of members of Security teams in the Senate and National Assembly.
Their recommendation, which was in reports tabled simultaneously in both the Senate and National Assembly yesterday afternoon, was preceded by an interrogation of the chief executive of the Council of University Education.
NOT ACCREDITED
CUE had in a letter to the committees stated that America’s Washington International University, where Mr Boinett obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Diplomacy and International Studies, was not accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the Distance Education and Training Council in the USA.
CHEA is CUE’s equivalent in the United States.
CUE boss Prof David Some was yesterday morning invited to the joint committees’ meeting at Boma Hotel in Nairobi and asked to clarify the letter.
According to the minutes of the meeting that ended at 1.10pm, Prof Some told the MPs that “Washington International University is recognised by Unesco despite not being recognised in its country of origin.”
Prof Some referred to an amendment to the Universities Act, which provided for CUE to “promote and support internationally recognised standards.”
“Taking cognizance of this, the recognition of academic qualifications from Washington International University by Unesco falls under internationally recognised standards and can therefore be recognised in Kenya,” Prof Some was reported to have said.
APPEND SIGNATURES
It was after this, the report said, that “the committee resolved by consensus to approve the nomination and subsequent appointment of Mr Boinett to the position of Inspector-General of the National Police Service.”
The report is set to be discussed in both Houses today.
It was signed by 26 of the 37 MPs from both Houses.
Of the 11 who did not sign, seven attended the meeting but did not append their signatures, suggesting there was disagreement within the joint committee.
Mr Boinett also has two Masters degrees and has attended 12 other professional courses.
