Spy chief, Air Force boss are sworn in as Gichangi retires - VIDEO

What you need to know:

  • The swearing-in came the morning after Maj-Gen Kameru’s confirmation to the position by the National Assembly in a special sitting. It was the first time that Parliament has approved the appointment of an NIS chief.
  • Mr Kameru will also be the Chairman of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, which approved Kenya’s chairmanship on August 31, after a week-long meeting held in Nairobi.
  • The Director of African Centre for Security & Strategic Studies Simiyu Werunga said: “Maj-Gen Kameru has to restore professionalism in the intelligence body so that Kenyans have confidence in it.”

Major General Philip Kameru was Thursday sworn in as director-general of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) at State House, Nairobi.

He replaces Maj-General Michael Gichangi who resigned a month ago.

The new spy chief was sworn in hours after MPs voted to approve his appointment on Wednesday evening.

He took the oath of office together with the new Air Force Commander, Maj-Gen Samuel Ng’ang’a Thuita, at a ceremony presided over by the Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Mr Joseph Kinyua. The ceremony was attended by President Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, General Julius Karangi.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and the chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, Mr  Ndung’u Githinji, and his deputy, Mr Barre Shill, were also present.

The swearing-in came the morning after Maj-Gen Kameru’s confirmation to the position by the National Assembly in a special sitting. It was the first time that Parliament has approved the appointment of an NIS chief.

President Kenyatta asked the new spy chief to join other government officials in delivering effective and efficient services to Kenyans.

The new spy chief, who will now be the President’s chief adviser on national security, has been the Director of the Kenya Defence Forces’ Military Intelligence.

SEVERAL CHALLENGES

He will also be part of the National Security Advisory Committee and also sit in the National Security Council. Aside from the local duties, Mr Kameru will also be the Chairman of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, which approved Kenya’s chairmanship on August 31, after a week-long meeting held in Nairobi.

After 36 years of service in the military, Mr Kameru takes over the intelligence docket at a time when it faces several challenges, among them declining public confidence especially in the wake of terrorist attacks and communal conflicts in parts of the country.

NIS was sharply criticised a year ago after the terrorist attack at the Westgate Shopping Mall and subsequent attacks that left many Kenyans dead and others wounded.

In its defence, it said it had provided the police with prior information on the impending attack, which the police denied. It said the information was too general and could not be acted on.

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said he welcomed the new intelligence boss.

“All of us are working towards the attainment of security in the country and that is what we will do in unison,” he said as security analysts opined the greatest challenge for the new boss is establishing a good working relationship with the police.

RESTORE PROFESSIONALISM

The Director of African Centre for Security & Strategic Studies Simiyu Werunga said: “Maj-Gen Kameru has to restore professionalism in the intelligence body so that Kenyans have confidence in it.”

Mr Werunga, who said he worked under Mr Kameru for 19 years in the military, said he was confident his former boss was up to the job.
Intelligence chiefs

“For the better part of his life at the military, he was part of the intelligence, unlike previous intelligence chiefs,” said Mr Werunga.

Other challenges include handling home-grown extremism and radicalisation, drug trade, poaching, economic crimes and cybercrime.

In a meeting last month, intelligence chiefs from African states said Kenya faces the challenge of domestic radicalisation, which leads to terrorism.

Mr Kameru holds a Master of Science in Security Management from the United Kingdom and another Master of Science degree in National Resources Strategy from the United States.

He becomes the third NIS boss to be appointed from the military after Maj-Gen Michael Gichangi and Gichangi’s predecessor, Brigadier Wilson Boinett.