President drops Kaindi, picks GSU boss in shuffle

Ms Grace Kaindi was on Tuesday dropped as the second-highest-ranking police officer in major changes announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The President appointed Mr Joel Mboya Kitili as the new deputy inspector-general of the police. He took over from Ms Kaindi, who was appointed ambassador. Until his appointment in an acting capacity, Mr Kitili was the commandant of the General Service Unit.

“Mr Joel Kitili’s nomination will take place with immediate effect, and until the substantive process of appointing the next DIG takes place,” the President said in a statement.

Mr Kitili was recently selected to coordinate the national crackdown on illicit alcohol.

The changes come against the background of sharp differences between the top leadership of the police service and Interior Ministry officials over the best way to modernise the police force and what equipment to buy after the service was allocated Sh10 billion in the Budget read last June. 

SMOOTH TRANSITION

President Kenyatta’s spokesman, Mr Manoah Esipisu, said the nomination of Mr Kitili was meant to ensure a smooth transition and continue the ongoing reforms in the National Police Service, which brings together the Administration Police Service, the Kenya Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The Nation also learnt that differences between Ms Kaindi and ministry top officials, among other issues, may have cost her the job.

Sources said a consignment of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, bomb suits and thermal imaging cameras that arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last week but there was a dispute over who would clear them.

The consignment was a part of a larger one that cost the government nearly Sh2.5 billion. The tender to supply the equipment was awarded to Primefive Garment Manufacturing Company by the Interior Ministry through single sourcing, but some police bosses were kept out of the deal.

According to tender documents seen by the Nation, the company is expected to deliver 16,985 bulletproof vests, 16,985 ballistics helmets, 100 units of thermal imaging cameras and 10 bomb suits.

AGE GROUNDS

The entire consignment worth Sh2.4 billion ($23.7 million) is to be delivered in batches.

The contract was signed by Principal Secretary Monica Juma, with Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet listed as a witness.

Ms Kaindi’s exit also comes just months after the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) wrote to her, asking her to retire on age grounds. Ms Kaindi contested the directive and the NPSC reversed the decision and said she could continue serving until January 2018.

According to the National Police Service website, Ms Kaindi has vast experience in the police force, where she served in various ranks since her enlistment in 1975.

“Among her major postings has been Commandant of the CID training School (2005), Provincial Police Commandant, Nyanza (2006-2008) and Director of Complaints at police headquarters (2008-2012) prior to her subsequent appointment as DIG,” the profile indicates.

Mr Kitili was appointed the GSU commandant on March 20 last year.

He replaced William Saiya, who was appointed the director of Small Arms.

Before his appointment last year, Mr Kitili served as the Rift Valley regional coordinator.

OTHER APPOINTMENTS

Late in June 2012, he was replaced as the commandant of the Presidential Escort Unit and was appointed the head of the National Armoury.

Besides replacing Ms Kaindi and appointing Mr Kitili, President Kenyatta also appointed Mr Martin Kimani as the director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre. His predecessor, Mr Isaac Ochieng, was appointed ambassador.

On Saturday, Ms Kaindi had reshuffled various county police commanders in a move seen as aimed at revamping security operations in the affected areas.

Mr Eusebius Laibuta of the Administration Police was deployed to the Emali AP College as the boss.

Kajiado County police commander Tito Kilonzi was posted to Mombasa as the commander, replacing Mr Robert Kitur, who was promoted to regional coordinator for Coast region.

Nyeri head of operations Shariff Abdalla was also posted to Elgeyo-Marakwet as the county commander while the head of the Dadaab refugee camp, Kalicha Roba, was moved to Embu.

The Nairobi deputy county commander Joseph Limo was transferred to Kisumu to replace Mr Nelson Njiiri.

Mr Njiiri was moved to Kajiado, where he replaced Mr Kilonzi.