Arachi who took over from outgoing IG David Kimaiyo will remain in office until Parliament approves Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett who has been nominated for the position by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 2 – The Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police, Samuel Arachi, has officially taken over office as the Acting Inspector General of Police with a promise to ensure security in the country during the transition.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony on Friday, Arachi said he was keen on proper consultations from all stakeholders including the outgoing police chief to ensure no hiccups despite the leadership changes.
“We are not out of the woods yet. And as the President has always said, we are at war with terror. All of us must work together. But on behalf of the National Police Service, count on us to continue the process of securing this country until we hand over the baton to the incoming Inspector General,” Arachi said.
Arachi noted that the crime has reduced over the festive season and called on police officers to continue with the same spirit.
Meanwhile, Kimaiyo who recalled his highs and lows during his two years in the position said he had nothing to regret and was optimistic that officers coming in are fit for the job.
“Every day of our lives is like a relay or a race where one, at a certain stage, has to hand over the baton to the other one. And it moves on and on like that. Today is the day I am handing over the baton, to the next person who will also be able to run the race and when it reaches the time, he will hand over to other persons,” he said.
Kimaiyo’s lowest moments, he says, was any time he would wake up faced with breaking news of deaths, either through attacks, accidents or domestic violence. “We are all human beings and when you hear of any death, it indeed affects you.”
He says for him to be in the service for 35 years was more of a calling than a job due to the tough challenges that he has gone through, just like other officers.
“We are the first people to go to the scene of crime and accidents and to be honest you don’t feel good when you continue collecting dead bodies. It really affects you. I can tell you for sure I saw dead bodies when I joined the police service. And for the first time you feel like running away. So this job is a calling, you have to persevere,” Kimaiyo said, urging Kenyans to at least appreciate security officers.
He has also emphasised the need to continue improving the security laws which he says are sometimes inhibiting in dealing with criminals while the blame falls on the security apparatus.
After retiring from the National Police Service, Kimaiyo goes to head the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) as the chairman.
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