• Ruto Tuesday, May 16 nominated Haji as the new DG for NIS.
• For Haji this is a good move. He goes to a field he knows better.
Image: PCS
MPs on Tuesday approved the nomination of Noordin Haji as the next NIS director general.
The opposition and government-allied MPs closed ranks in the vote of confidence in the outgoing DPP.
"This is a gentleman who the people of Kenya know very well. One who has served in the office of the DPP with unmatched integrity," Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah said.
"He is a distinguished officer who has served very well, who has an exemplary career in the service. I think it's one appointment that is going to move the country forward," Minority Whip Junet Mohamed said.
"What is coming out is Noordin is a quintessential, pragmatic, intelligence officer and I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to contribute to the further transformation of our intelligence community," Eldas MP Adan Keynan said.
When Noordin walks back to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters off Thika Road, he will be handling many of the issues he understands well.
As a career intelligence officer, he is touted as one who knows what is ailing Kenya and what needs to be done to address the same.
He was Director of Public Prosecutions for the past five years during which he handled several matters that determined the fate of many.
At the office, Haji handled evidence that came in terms of intelligence and real one.
Now he walks back to the same territory he left in 2018 to join the office of the DPP.
Haji will be needed to handle the internal political instability, which has been poisoned further by the high cost of living and poverty.
As the NIS boss, he has to handle the issues carefully. He was actively involved in the recent bipartisan talks between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga's troops.
And many expect him to play a neutral role in handling the issues at hand and ensure stability.
Regionally, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and DRC are unstable. And as the NIS boss, he has to be involved in ensuring stability for prosperity.
Terrorism too remains a thorn in the flesh as it is a threat internally and regionally.
Haji is an expert in terror matters and many expect more vigour on the issue for stability.
NIS is always involved in various security operations in effort to ensure stability. The agency trains and maintains some operational teams.
They include the Special Operations Group, which is credited for stabilising security in parts of northern Kenya and the Coast.
The Kenya Kwanza government cut the budget that was used in the operations, which has threatened the exercise at large.
But for Haji, he knows what to do to get good results. He has been there and done it and it will be a matter of wait and see.
In terms of economy and graft in and out of government, Haji is expected to give proper advice to various concerned parties for the sake of growth.
NIS is always involved in all those matters. As DPP, he made friends and enemies.
Some of them are in government. He also gained praise and ridicule as a DPP for the five years he has served.
But he says it was all about work.
Haji returns to the NIS where he served up to 2018 as the Deputy Director of the Counter Organised Crime Unit before being named as the DPP.
He had three more years to serve at the ODPP.
Haji had risen through the ranks to reach the position in the NIS.
Haji was born on July 3, 1973.
The DPP had a privileged upbringing thanks to his father Mohamed Yusuf Haji who was the Garissa senator.
The senior Haji was Kenya’s Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2013 and doubled as Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Affairs in 2012 in an acting capacity.
Yusuf served as a public administrator in the 1970s and late 1990s before he plunged into politics.
Noordin’s mother was a teacher. His brother Abdul is the senator for Garissa, a seat he inherited from his father and defended in the 2022 polls.
The senior Haji had once said he feared for his son’s life given that his appointment as DPP would come with many enemies.
The DPP is married and has children although he has kept them out of the public limelight.
After completing primary school, Haji joined Kabarak High School for his secondary studies and then went to Greensteds International School in Nakuru.
Haji holds an LLM and LLB from the University of Wales and Cardiff.
He has an MNSPO (Masters's degree in National Security Policy) with merit from Australian National University.
He also holds a post-graduate diploma from the Kenya School of law.
His first job in the Public Service was as a State Counsel at the Attorney General Office in 2000.
His career has been shaped up in the Attorney General’s office, where he worked for many years as a deputy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
His responsibilities included providing legal counsel to the police, the Director of Criminal Investigations, the Director General NIS, and other non-law enforcement agencies.
Haji was appointed by the President as the DPP in March 2018.
He introduced and supported the electronic filing system in the ODPP which has enhanced service delivery at large.
He leaves the ODPP with a modern academy- The Prosecution Training Institute (PTI) which helps the prosecution team to shape their skills.