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Kavuludi ‘in the dark’ on major police reshuffle

The commission's chairman Johnstone Kavuludi says he is not aware of the changes, and only learnt about them from media reports/FILE

The commission’s chairman Johnstone Kavuludi says he is not aware of the changes, and only learnt about them from media reports/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 20 – The National Police Service Commission now says it was not consulted on the major reshuffle announced on Thursday by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

The commission’s chairman Johnstone Kavuludi says he is not aware of the changes, and only learnt about them from media reports.

Among those moved in the changes affecting 55 senior police officers is Samuel Kimaru who was moved from Traffic Headquarters as Commandant.

“We are not aware of the changes,” Kavuludi said. “They are supposed to have come to us first for approval.”

Kavuludi who is out of the country said the commission will hold a meeting next week to deliberate on the matter. “It is unfortunate what is happening.”

A notice of the changes seen by Capital FM News was signed by the Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Grace Kaindi who said the changes were approved by a “joint service board meeting on March 18.”

READ Murithi replaces Kimaru as Traffic Commandant

Officials at the police headquarters told Capital FM News that the meeting was chaired by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo who instructed Kaindi to draft the changes.

The new twist is likely to renew the power wrangles between Kavuludi and Kimaiyo, even after the two assured Kenyans that all was well in the country’s security management.

There are also fears the changes may be challenged in court as being unconstitutional due to the lack of the National Police Commission’s involvement.

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In the changes announced Thursday, Charlton Murithi Muriuki who once served as the Director of Personnel at Police Headquarters has been named the new Traffic Commandant, taking over from Kimaru who has been sent to Police Headquarters for further re-deployment.

The Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Joel Mboya Kitili has been appointed the GSU Commandant while William Saiya who initially headed the unit has been re-deployed to head the National Focal Point on Small Arms.

Boniface Nzioki Maingi who was the Deputy GSU Commandant has been appointed the Chief Licensing Officer.

John Patrick Owino who has been heading the small arms unit is the new commandant of the Police Airwing replacing Rodgers Mbithi.

The changes are seen as measures Inspector General David Kimaiyo is putting in place to stem rising crime, and the re-emergence of road carnage.

Several divisional police chiefs (OCPDs) were also moved in the changes, among them Patrick Oduma of Nairobi Central Police Division who has been transferred to Matuga in Kwale.

The new Central OCPD is Fredrick Muthama.

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