Mutyambai now moved to general ward as pressure stabilizes

Inspector General of police Hilary Mutyambai was Monday evening moved from the high dependence unit to the general ward.

This is after doctors handling him said his pressure is stabilizing and he is responding well to medication.

Acting Inspector General- who is also the substantive Deputy Inspector General - Administration Police Service, Noor Gabow, is among those who visited Mutyambai in hospital on Monday.

Mutyambai was later moved to a normal private ward and is under observation.

Officials said he had pressure in his brain hence the admission to hospital.

Mutyambai has been in critical condition in hospital after he fell sick prompting him to nominate Gabow to act as the police boss.

He was rushed to the Aga Khan Hospital’s High Dependence Unit on August 25  night where he was admitted to enable doctors to subject him to various tests on him before deciding on the next course of action.

The HDU is a specialist ward providing intensive care (treatment and monitoring) for critically ill people.

There are plans to fly him out of the country depending on how he responds to the ongoing medication.

This will give him time to rest and wide range of experts to attend to him, officials aware of the issue said.

Mutyambai said August 26 he will be away from the office attending to a medical checkup.

“This is to inform the general public that I will be away from the office attending to a medical checkup effective today, 26th August 2022.”

“In my absence, Mr. Noor Gabow, the Deputy Inspector General - Administration Police Service, will act as the Inspector General of the National Police Service until my return,” he said in a statement.

The move has sparked debate on what happens in such circumstances.

The IG exercises independent command of the service. He may perform functions or exercise the powers in person or may delegate to any police officer junior to him.

In cases where the IG is suspended from office or incapable of performing his functions, the President may appoint another person to perform the duties for up to three months.

It is not the first time under his term for Mutyambai to delegate his mandate for medical reasons.

When he fell sick in 2020, he delegated the functions to the DIG Kenya Police Edward Mbugua.

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