Joseph Boinnet names new police commanders

County commissioners and police bosses, including security chiefs in Nairobi and Mombasa, were on Wednesday moved in a major shakeup of the country’s grassroots security apparatus.

A day after President Uhuru Kenyatta dropped Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Regular Police Grace Kaindi, a reshuffle of field operations officers was announced affecting all the 47 counties.

Mr Japheth Koome was appointed Nairobi county commander, replacing Mr Benson Kibui.

BOOST COORDINATION

In Mombasa, former Presidential Escort Commander Francis Wanjohi Mwangi was named the commander.

The fate of Mr Tito Kilonzi, who had been named the policing boss in the coastal city, is unknown.

There has been concern that though President Kenyatta made changes at the top to try to shore up an ineffective internal security apparatus, the changes had not been felt on the ground.

Towns and the countryside are poorly policed, rogue police aid criminals to evade justice, traffic jams are the order of the day and officers seem unable to solve major cases.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said the changes were part of reforms that would improve security by ensuring officials at the lower levels worked in harmony with those at the national level.

DEFEAT TERROR

“The President issued an executive order to cohere the functioning of national government from the lowest to the highest levels. This structure is also key to responding effectively to the current security threats facing us," Maj-Gen (Rtd) Nkaissery told reporters at Harambee House in Nairobi.

He added that the ministry’s focus is on defeating terrorism and eradicating cattle rustling, and winning the war against illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs.

The CS said the changes take immediate effect, adding that they should report for duty on September 6 at the latest.