DIG Kanja sworn into office, promises to deliver

For Douglas Kirocho Kanja it is a dream come true to be named the new Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police.

He comes into the office at a time when the service is facing a number of challenges, which he is familiar with.

They include poor working conditions, low salaries and poor morale.

He was sworn into office at the Judiciary on Thursday at 7.30 am a day after President William Ruto had named him the new DIG KPS.

His boss the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, fellow DIG for Administration Police Noor Gabow and DCI boss Mohamed Amin and the members of the National Police Service Commission were present.

He swore to deliver to Kenyans and ensure rule of law.

At 59, and born in Nyeri County, he is a career police officer who has grown through the ranks to attain his current one of DIG.

Prior to his appointment, he had served as commandant of the General Service Unit since 2018.

Kanja emerged top after interviews by the Commission last week.

He takes over from Edward Mbugua who retired from the service.

He had served as Kilifi County police boss for years and at Kenya Police headquarters as the in charge of armory.

Kanja had, in 2019, unsuccessfully applied to be named the IG to succeed Joseph Boinnet who was retiring.

GSU, which he has been leading is the single biggest, elite and key unit in police operations with a population of about 12,000.

Kanja is a specialist in firearms and has served as the Police Service Chief Armourer.

In 2019, he commanded GSU officers in a rescue mission following the Dusit2 Hotel attack.

The well-coordinated response by his team was widely praised. He was less than a year in the office as the commandant but managed to steer the team to repulse the attackers in the incident that left 21 people dead.

He said he is equal to the task and promised to deliver.

“With the support from the public and all stakeholders we will make it,” he said.

The first DIG under the 2010 constitution was Grace Kaindi in 2012, followed by Joel Kitili and Mbugua.

In the latest changes in the service, the acting DIG Abdallah Komesha was moved back to his former base at the DCI and named the head of the investigations bureau.

He took over from Eliud Lagat who was named the new commandant of GSU.

The recently named head of operations at Kenya Police Nyale Munga was moved to Kiganjo police college and named the commandant to succeed former police spokesman Bruno Shioso who was moved to Kenya Coast Guard and named the Director General.

The new director of operations at KPS is Ranson Lolmodoni while the new Deputy Commandant of NPS Main Campus Kiganjo is Esther Mwangi.

 These are among the top officers he will work with in efforts to address various challenges facing the service.

As the DIG, Kanja is the most powerful as he controls almost 70,000 personnel out of the more than 100,000 officers under NPS.

The other personnel are in Administration Police Service and DCI.

The DIG KPS is in charge of all eight regional police commanders, 47 county commanders, formation commanders, Sub County Commanders, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and all uniformed officers.

He also controls the GSU, traffic department and Kenya Police College in Kiganjo.

The functions of the DIG in Kenya are crucial for the command of the National Police Service.

Article 245 of the Constitution provides for two positions of Inspector General to head the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service.

The President should appoint each Deputy Inspector General of Police with the recommendation of the National Police Service Commission.

The DIG Kenya Police Service should be subject to the direction, command and control of the Inspector-General—be responsible for the effective and efficient day-to-day administration and operations of the Kenya Police Service.

He should also implement policies and directions of NPS in relation to the Kenya Police Service, prepare the budget, planning and provision of support for the service.

He should also establish and maintain police stations, outposts, units or unit bases in the counties and determine the boundaries of the police stations, outposts or unit bases.

Moreover, he should establish a facility in each police station for receiving, recording and reporting of complaints from members of the public.

The DIG should manage, monitor and evaluate KPS, undertake the supervision of the service, co-ordinate training in KPS, provide internal oversight of the service.

Other duties are to establish and maintain a relationship between the Kenya Police Service and the community and improve transparency and accountability in the Kenya Police Service.

He should co-operate and engage in joint security operations with the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Administration Police Service, other government departments or other security organs to ensure the safety and security of the public.

He should implement the decisions of the Inspector General, issue general, special, routine and standing orders in respect of the KPS and perform such other duties as the IG may assign, or as the NPS Act or by any other written law may prescribe.