PLOT TO HAVE MARWA REPLACE KIMAIYIO

After the exit of the Inspector general of police David Kimayio, lobbying for his position has begun in earnest. Unlike in the past when the national police Service Commission was tasked with the short listing, interviewing and forwarding three names to president for formal appointment, a silent amendment to the national Police Service Commission Act which was passed by parliament and assented to by President Uhuru Kenyatta in June this year gives the president express powers and a say on who becomes the Inspector General of Police.

Under the new law, which was pushed by Jubilee side but opposed by Cord, the president constitutes a selection panel of one person each from seven public organisations. The organisations are Office of the President, the Public Service Commission, the National Police Service Commission, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, the National Gender and Equality Commission and the Law Society of Kenya.

The Public Service Commission shall convene the first meeting of the selection panel at which a chairperson will be elected from among the members. It is this panel that will interview and forward three names to Uhuru for appointment.

Among those seen as most probable Kimaiyo successors, top is Mombasa county commissioner Nelson Marwa. Those mentioning Marwa say he is a no-nonsense law enforcer who has what it takes to be the new IG. Politically, they say, he is correct as he comes from Kuria community which is believed to be in Jubilee having voted for Uhuru in the presidential race.

In Kuria West, Uhuru garnered 15,948 votes as compared to Raila’s 13,231 votes while in Kuria East, Uhuru got 9,192 votes against Raila’s 12,126.

Those pushing for Marwa say Jubilee should give him the job as a way of rewarding the Kuria for voting for Uhuru and also for voting for URP in Kuria West and Kanu in Kuria East.

Although Kimaiyo is a Kalenjin, sources say DP William Ruto has no problem with Marwa as his party was voted for by the Kuria community.

Others however say that Kimaiyo should be replaced by somebody from Kalenjin community and the name being mentioned is that of Judy Jebet of Railways Police Unit. Judy had applied for the position of CID director and come second behind Ndegwa Muhoro. Muhoro scored 89pc against Judy’s 86pc. S

There is also another camp within Jubilee pushing for the return of former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali. This group claims that Ali being a retired military man  will work well with the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces Julius Karangi and his former colleague in the disciplined forces retired Maj Gen Joseph Nkaissery who was appointed Interior cabinet secretary to replace Joseph Ole Lenku fired in the wake of the rising terrorist attacks. There are also those who say that Ali will work well with the NSI Director Philip Kameru who is also a military man. Another military man in line of security operations is the retired Major-General Gideon Kihalagwa who is the director of immigrations.

As expected, another camp is pushing for somebody from Mount Kenya region and the name that is being touted is that  Muhoro. Muhoro had also applied for the position of IG alongside Kimaiyo but was not successful. There are also those pushing for King’ori Mwangi who is currently in charge of police reforms. He was also shortlisted for the position of Deputy IG but lost to Grace Kaindi. 

But even as lobbying continues to take centrestage, pressure is mounting on the two deputy IGs Samuel Arachi and Kaindi to quit on grounds they have failed in their duties. Sources say once a new IG is appointed, the target will be Kaindi and Arachi.