• Until his nomination as IG to replace Hillary Mutyambai, Koome served as the commandant of the National Police Service College, Kiganjo.
• He will take over the office from Noor Gabow who is serving in an acting capacity.
Image: FILE
The new Inspector General of National Police Service Japhet Koome is set to be sworn to office Friday.
A dispatch from the Judiciary said Chief Justice Martha Koome will preside over the event at the Supreme Court Building in the morning hours.
This is after he was appointed as the IG. His appointment was set to be gazzetted.
Until his nomination as IG to replace Hillary Mutyambai, Koome served as the commandant of the National Police Service College, Kiganjo.
He will take over the office from Noor Gabow who is serving in an acting capacity.
On Wednesday, while approving Koome for the position, the Senate described him as a highly qualified and experienced police officer.
“The Committees having considered the suitability, competence, experience and integrity of the nominee following the approval hearing process, recommend that Parliament approves the nomination of Japhet Koome for appointment to the position of the Inspector-General of the National Police Service,” reads part of the Senate report.
Koome was vetted for the position on Tuesday by a joint committee of the Senate and National Assembly.
Section 12 (2) and (7) of the National Police Service Act states that the President shall, within 14 days after a vacancy occurs in the office of the Inspector-General, nominate a person for appointment as inspector-general and submit the name of the nominee to Parliament.
Koome comes to a familiar territory having been recruited to the service as a constable and grew through the ranks to the current position.
He comes to office when the working morale of many officers is low and has let crime to soar.
This is motivated partially by politicians who have been bashing the police operations and abusing their operations meant to tame crime.
Other officers say a directive by authorities for them to cut their budget has affected their operations.
“The new IG has to call for a meeting and assure the officers of his support. He comes to office to find a very poorly motivated team,” an officer said.
In reaction to the developments from the politicians, a section of officers are in a silent go-slow, insiders say.
This has motivated gangs to spring up in various parts of the country where they are operating with impunity. Incidents of violent robbery have been on the rise in the past days.
The arrest of nine officers from the disbanded Special Service Unit and those from General Service Unit has plunged the working morale of many officers.
The SSU officers are accused of abducting two missing of two Indians and their Kenyan driver.
Suspected thugs on motorcycles strike at will and rob pedestrians and motorists and escape without being arrested.
In some instances, people are trailed from banks and robbed of their money after withdrawing the same.
Police statistics show up to five violent crimes are reported daily in the past weeks with no solution so far.
Even though police authorities denied claims of a silent go slow within the service, several officers talked to confirmed they are on a wait and see motion.