President William Ruto’s nomination of Douglas Kanja, the outgoing Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police, as the next Inspector General of Police has drawn questions.
Insiders see it as a political move at the expense of service delivery.
They accuse Ruto of double speaking, given that two weeks ago he had ordered all civil servants who have hit 60 years to leave the service. He made similar remarks during his tour of the coast over the weekend.
“It is just worrying. We don’t know why or what steps to follow from him. Kanja is already 61 years old and has been on a one-year contract as the DIG KPS,” sources said.
“Was he serious about the issue of retirement, or did he speak to make himself happier?” asked a police officer, who said he was disappointed in his new move.
Furthermore, there are concerns about whether the president should follow intelligence recommendations on the candidates he needs to investigate and submit them to Parliament for vetting.
Reports suggest Kanja does not have a degree. The law requires one to have a degree for him or her to qualify as an IG.
Under Section 11 of the National Police Service Act (Qualifications for Appointment of IG and DIG), a person can become an Inspector-General if they are a Kenyan citizen, hold a degree from a Kenyan university, have a distinguished career in their respective fields, and meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
This raises questions about the seriousness of the appointing authority’s role in ensuring service integrity and delivery.
When the news of Kanja’s nomination broke, police morale reportedly collapsed.
Parliament instructed him to hand it over to DIG APS Gilbert Masengeli, pending his approval.
If approved, he will succeed his former boss, Japhet Koome, who resigned on July 12. Police Commission chairman Eliud Kinuthia defended the nomination, saying Kanja has the best credentials for the job.
“Let’s maintain professionalism and allow him to work for Kenyans. He has all it takes to be an IG. We wait for the next steps in Parliament,” he said.
He refused to discuss the claim that Kanja lacks a degree. Parliament has not yet announced the date for his vetting.
Kanja has had a stellar career spanning nearly four decades in law enforcement, during which he rose through the ranks to the top command of the service.
He previously served as Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service, Commandant of the General Service Unit for a period of five years, Deputy Commandant of the General Service Unit for three years, County Police Commander in Charge of Kilifi County, Deputy Commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, Chief Armourer at the Police Headquarters, and Deputy Chief Armourer at the Kenya Police Service Headquarters, among other high-level positions within the ranks of the National Police Service.
The IG nominee has undertaken extensive security-related training at home and abroad.
Kanja, a career police officer with thirty-nine years of cumulative service, started his career in 1985 as a recruit Police Constable and progressed to become a Police Constable, Police Corporal, Acting Inspector of Police, Inspector of Police (IP), Chief Inspector of Police, Acting Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector General, and Senior Assistant Inspector General.
Via Nyakundi
