Japheth Koome: The New Inspector General of Police

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept, 27 – Former Nairobi Police commander and current Commandant of the National Police Service College, Kiganjo Japeth Koome has been nominated as the Inspector General of Police replacing, Hillary Mutyambai.

Mutyambai has proceeded on terminal leave, effectively vacating his position as the country’s top police boss after a long illness.

“I have received communication from the inspector general of Police of his request to proceed on terminal leave because of his health situation. I have after discussing with Mr. Mutyambai and in consideration of his service to our nation and his health situation I have accepted that Mutyambai will proceed on terminal leave on the six months that he still has of his contract,” said Ruto.

Before taking over the helm at the NPS, Koome will first have to be vetted by the National Assembly before being sworn in as IG.

Noticeably, Koome also served as Sub-county police commander, Central Police (Nairobi.) and then principal deputy of the substantive deputy inspector general of police (KPS) Edward Mbugua.

Earlier this month, the National Police Service broke the yoke of ‘financial dependency’ from the executive arm of government, the office of the president, after president William Ruto said that he would grant them financial autonomy.

As required by Article 245 of the Constitution, the Inspector-General of Police is mandated to exercise independent command over the National Police Service. The services’ operational autonomy, however, has been undermined by the continued financial dependence on the Office of the President. This situation is going to change,” he said.

The instruments conferring financial autonomy to the NPS have been transferred from the Office of the President as the Inspector-General will now be designated as the accounting officer.

“Financial independence to the police will give impetus to the fight against corruption, and end the political weaponization of the criminal justice system; an undertaking I made to the people of Kenya,” said Ruto.

President Kenyatta’s administration was accused of abusing the criminal justice Sector in order to punish political opponents.

Institutions such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were accused of abusing their power to arbitrarily arrest rival politicians.

Granting the police service finally independence is expected to promote accountability and improve service delivery.

Though not addressed during his inauguration speech, Ruto’s deputy, Rigathi Gachagua during the campaign trail said that they would strive to improve police salaries and allowances.