The changes affected the entire security leadership of North Eastern province which is the worst hit by terrorists lately/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 5 – The government on Thursday announced a major reshuffle of senior police and administrative officers across the country, as part of measures aimed at curbing terror threats posed by Al Shabaab militants.
The changes affected the entire security leadership of North Eastern province which is the worst hit by terrorists lately.
The Provincial Commissioner, the Provincial Police chief, his deputy and the regional criminal investigations chief were all moved, in what acting Internal Security Minister Yusuf Haji described as “measures aimed at restoring our security.”
Provincial Commissioner (PC) James Ole Serian was moved from North Eastern to Western Province. He was replaced by Ernest Munyi who has been moved from Coast Province. Samuel Kilel of Western Province takes over from Munyi in the Coast.
North Eastern Provincial Police Chief Leo Ijora Nyongesa was moved to head the Complaints Department at the Police headquarters in Nairobi and will be replaced by Philip Tuimur who headed the Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU).
Grace Kaindi has been moved from the Complaints Department to oversee the airports.
North Eastern Deputy PPO Philip Ndolo Ndunda has also been moved to be the Deputy Director of Operations at Police headquarters while the area PCIO John Kiplasoi Maritim goes to Western Province in the same capacity.
The new North Eastern PCIO is Vitalis Otieno Okumu who was the deputy commandant of the Anti Narcotics Unit in Nairobi.
“The changes take effect immediately; we are doing everything possible to ensure the country is safe. We will continue fighting the Al Shabaab militants,” Haji said on Thursday morning.
Nyanza PPO Njue Njagi was promoted and deployed to police headquarters as Director of Operations.
The new Nyanza PPO is Joseph Oletito who was the former Traffic Commandant. Acting Head of Police Operations Alfred Kambona Ombaba has been moved to Western Province as PPO.
Joel Mboya Kitili who was hounded out of the Presidential Escort earlier this week will now head the national armoury, leaving his State House position to Francis Wanjohi Mwangi of the elite General Service Unit (GSU).
Sources said Kitili’s woes follow a disagreement with a member of the first family who demanded that he be moved from there.
Western PPO Benson Kibui Githinji who once served as the Head of the Presidential Escort Unit has been re-deployed to head the national Traffic office in Ruaraka.
Kibue was moved from State House under similar circumstances as Kitili.
Central PPO John Kaua M’Mbijiwe has been re-deployed to Rift Valley where he will replace Francis Munyambu who moves to Central Province.
Rift Valley Provincial CID chief Francis Njiru was also moved to head operations at the CID headquarters in Nairobi. The New Rift Valley PCIO is Samuel Orina Nyabengi who has been transferred from Western Province.
Nairobi PCIO Peter Mwau Muinde will now be in charge of the CID training school in Nairobi’s South C.
The Anti Narcotics Unit will be headed by Dr Hamisi Massa who has just completed an advancement course at the National Defence College in Karen.
Nicholas Kamwende who once served as the head of the Anti Terrorism Unit in the country has also completed an advancement course at the National Defence College and deployed to Nairobi Area as the PCIO.
Wilberforce Lugusa Ndagona who has been heading police operations in Eastern Province has been moved to Rift Valley in the same capacity.
Lang’ata divisional Police chief David Bunei was promoted and moved to North Eastern Province to carry out Administrative work. The new Lang’ata OCPD is Titus Yoma who has been OCPD Transmara.
The changes affected 40 senior police officers and three Provincial Commissioners.
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