President William Ruto's administration has made more changes in the police service, redeplacing the head of a specialised unit that guards all State Houses and State Lodges.
In the changes, George Nderitu, who was the police boss in charge of State House and State Lodges, was redeployed to GSU headquarters and his place taken by Ernest Cheruiyot.
Cheruiyot has been serving at the Recce Company of the General Service Unit at Ruiru where he was in charge of operations.
Nderitu was moved to GSU headquarters and named the General Staffing Officer.
Nderitu served in the State House position for more than ten years and held the role throughout the tenure of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
After taking over, President Ruto has gradually moved to make a complete sweep of Uhuru-era security bosses as he moves to firmly take charge of his administration.
The only senior official who has survived the purge is Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla who was promoted by Ruto.
The new police changes were made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
The police unit that guards all State Houses and State Lodges is known within police circles as the G Company of the GSU.
Its head is the commanding officer.
The deputy IG also announced other changes of senior police officers.
The changes come at a time when the state is not leaving anything to chance amid chaos occasioned by opposition street protests.
The government has alleged a well-orchestrated plan by some leaders to fund chaos to trigger instability of the new administration.
In the changes, Edward Changach was named the Officer Commanding Leadership and Supervisory- National Police Service Embakasi B Campus.
Dickson Njogu was moved to the operations western region, Nicholas Chalulot to Taveta Sub County Police Commander, Diphus Chemoss to adjutant NPS Embakasi B Campus, Maurice Odanda to be staff officer field officer training and Anderson Mbae will be the Sub County Commander Mavoko.
Kanja moved Josphat Sirma to Recce Company while Daniel Kipchumba will head the Unit Police in GSU.
State House and State Lodges are guarded by the officers drawn from GSU’s G Company.
The president also has the Presidential Escort Unit, which is a fully-fledged team, which can handle the movement of the President and his family anytime.
They, however, usually get the help of the local police whenever the President visits.
Together with his family, the President has about 200 security guards from the GSU.
As part of security measures, they don’t allow armed police officers, especially those with rifles, at events, apart from their members.
Whenever the President moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is well secured. If he addresses a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.
The President enjoys some of the best police officers’ services as they are drawn from various units and trained on a common agenda.
Other than police officers, officials from the National Intelligence Service also provide crucial services to the President.
Senior Assistant Inspector General of police Oloonkishu Yiampoy is the Presidential Escort Unit Commandant.
