Lobbying has intensified for senior positions that have fallen, or will be falling vacant within the National Police Service as current office holders retire.

Over 15 senior officers have retired from the Police after serving for over three decades.

Among those who retired are John Kariuki, the former head of Investigations Bureau (IB) at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters and Henry Ondiek, the former Director of DCI Operations.

Both officers were of the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) and their positions have been taken by their deputies Carrey Nyawinda (AIG) and Benard Gicheru, a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). 

Charles Karege, the principal assistant to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Administration Police Service has also retired and been replaced by James Akoru.

Embakasi AP Training College Commandant Musa Kakawa also retired and was replaced by Mukuha Kamau.

The new commandant of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) is Okech Owino. The changes were announced by DIG APS Noor Gabow.

Action regional boss

The Rift Valley Regional Commander Marcus Ochola has also retired and his deputy, Robinson Mboloi is the acting regional police boss.

Some officers have raised concerns saying meritocracy was sometimes not considered when such promotions and appointments are made.

“There are career officers with clean working records who cannot be appointed to such positions due to other factors,” an officer said.

Others have claimed that they have stagnated in their positions for no apparent reason.

“Some senior officers were recommended for promotion but are yet to be promoted and no proper reasons have been given.

Within the DCI, some officers were to be promoted to the ranks of Commissioner of Police (CP) and AIG.

At the DCI, the head of Personnel Mwangi Wanderi, head of Legal Amos Omuga, acting Head of Operations Benard Gicheru, Head of Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) Paul Mumo, among others had been cleared for promotion to the next rank but are yet to be promoted.

Outgoing IB boss Kariuki said he had served for 33 years before bowing out.

“I wish you well as you continue to serve the members of the public and for those whom I may have crossed swords for one reason or the other be assured there was nothing personal and count it as job hazards,” said Kariuki in his letter to his colleagues at the service.