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The interviews for the new Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were conducted yesterday and the successful officer will be named from Friday.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairman Eliud Kinuthia said yesterday they had also received various reports from members of the public on the officers interviewed adding the results would be ready from tomorrow.

“We will give a report by Friday which is the fourteenth day of the lapse of the period given,” the chairman said.

The 10  senior officers were yesterday vetted at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in camera, for security reason, according to the NPSC.

 “We are dealing with security issues and this will remain closed doors. We will make the report public,” he said.

The successful candidate will replace George Kinoti who resigned on September 27. Following his resignation, Dr Hamisi Massa was on September 30 appointed to act until a new director is appointed within a period of 14 days.

After the interviews, the NPSC commissioners held a meeting to analyse the performance of the individual officers and award marks before announcing the top three.

The three names will be sent to the President tomorrow for appointment. The successful candidate will be the 16th officer to head the directorate since its establishment

Among those to be interviewed is Nicholas Ireri Kamwende, the former Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) and Nairobi Region DCI boss. Kamwende is currently the Director of Planning at DCI headquarters. He has also served as the Director of Planning, er and also had stints at the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Banking Fraud Unit.

The only female officer interviewed for the coveted position was Esther Chepkosgei Seroney, the current Bomet County police commander. She had held the same position in Homabay before.

The former DCI officer was appointed a county commander in 2019 and had also served as the Busia DCI boss. Seroney, a nurse by profession, also holds a bachelor’s Degree in Security Science and Management from Kenyatta University.

Explosives expert

Another interviewee is Eliud Lagat, the current Director of Reforms at DCI headquarters. Lagat is an explosives and post blasts expert who headed the forensic Bomb Disposal Unit, prior to his current posting.

Dr Mwangi Wanderi, the current head of DCI Railways command has also made it to the final list. Wanderi who is a distinguished scholar was a long serving Director of Personnel at DCI headquarters. He has previously served in the Flying Squad.

Seasoned detective Munga Nyale is also to be interviewed. Nyale is currently the Principal Assistant to the Inspector General at the National Police Service (NPS) headquarters. He has also headed both the Flying Squad and the ATPU and been the Central DCI boss.

In March last year, Nyale was among the 50 senior police officers of the ranks between Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and Assistant Inspector General (AIG) who were promoted to the next ranks. Nyale, then an AIG and the Principal Assistant to the IG was promoted to the rank of Senior AIG (SAIG).

IAU Head

Also interviewed yesterday is the seasoned detective, Mohammed Amin Ibrahim, the current head of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) the internal body tasked with oversighting the police.

He has headed the Investigations Bureau (IB) at the DCI headquarters and served in various capacities including heading the then CID Investigations Bureau, Banking Fraud Investigations Unit among other senior management positions. Amin, a SAIG, was promoted to the rank in March last year by the NPSC.

The Coast Regional DCI boss Walumoli Barasa is another officer to be interviewed today. He has previously served at the elite Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) and as the Central Region DCI boss.

The former Head of Legal at the DCI headquarters Michael Wiso will also be interviewed today alongside David Birech, the head of Police Reforms, Paul Ndambuki, who has previously served at Interpol Headquarters in France and at the DCI Academy.

The interviews focused on the officers’ experience, wealth, trainings, past records among other things. All candidates were required to have a degree, at least 10 years’ experience and proven knowledge of criminal investigations.

A total of 253 officers applied for the position. The Commission shortlisted 10.