NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 28 – Antony Kibuchi formally took office as Nairobi Provincial Police Officer (PPO) on Monday, with a pledge to make a difference in the city’s security status.
Mr Kibuchi who formerly headed Nyanza Province told Capital News that he would soon hold a strategy meeting with all senior police commanders in the province.
"We want to make this city safe at all costs," he vowed, outlining the war on organised gangs like Mungiki and kidnappings as his major priorities.
"They will be a thing of the past, these are my major challenges but I am determined to overcome them with the support of the public," he said.
His first assignment was to escort President Mwai Kibaki to The Stanley Hotel where he attended a luncheon with Muslim religious leaders.
Mr Kibuchi’s predecessor John Njue Njagi handed over to him at a meeting held in Nairobi Area Provincial Police headquarters where he summoned all Divisional commanders and CID chiefs.
Mr Njagi used the meeting to appeal for maximum support from the officers to the new police chief.
"It was a cordial meeting addressed by both police chiefs. The outgoing PPO used the forum to thank us for our support as the new PPO appealed for the same," a senior officer who attended the meeting said.
Several interviews by Capital News with senior police officers revealed that most officers are happy with Mr Kibuchi’s posting to Nairobi.
"We are impressed, Mr Kibuchi is humble and strict in his work. He is approachable unlike the outgoing PPO," one of the officers said.
Mr Njagi was expected to take over as Nyanza PPO on Tuesday.
In North Eastern Province, Mr Abdul Maka Mzee similarly took over from Jonathan Kosgey who was promoted and re-deployed to Police headquarters to oversee reforms.
All senior officers transferred in last week’s reshuffle had taken over their new positions by Monday evening.
Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere had set September 25 as the deadline for handing over for all those affected by the reshuffle.
Capital News has learnt that Mr Iteere is fine-tuning another reshuffle which will affect senior officers, mainly above the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
The changes to come are likely to affect divisional police chiefs even at the CID department and may also affect some departments at Police Headquarters shaken, according to sources familiar with Mr Iteere’s diary.
Key departments targeted in the shake-up include that of the Police Spokesman and the personnel.
About The Author
