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The National Police Service has a new spokesperson, Dr Resila Onyango, who made history as the first female police officer in Kenya to attain a doctorate degree.

Dr Onyango is a Commissioner of Police and was attached to the Planning Department at the Inspector General’s office before her elevation yesterday.

She replaces Bruno Shioso, who becomes commandant of the National Police Service Training College, Kiganjo. 

Shioso replaces Engineer Japheth Koome, the IG nominee, vetted by Parliament yesterday (see story below).

In changes announced by acting Inspector General Noor Gabow, the Central Regional Police Commander, Manase Musyoka, has also been moved to Nairobi to replace James Mugera, who has retired.

The Deputy Commandant Kiganjo and former Nairobi Region police commander Philip Ndolo has been recalled to the Police Headquarters, while the new Central and Western regions commanders are Lydia Ligami and Paul Langat respectively. Langat replaces Peris Muthoni who has also retired.

Catherine Mugwe was also named to head the new staff officer training at the police headquarters. 

More changes are expected if Parliament approves Koome’s nomination.

Meanwhile, Dr Onyango will be tasked with getting information about the service to the public and media. As spokesperson, her main role will be to maximise the effect of good news and minimise the effect of bad news.

Dr Onyango, a graduate of Moi University, was attached to the Office of the spokesperson at Vigilance where she played a key role in the publication of the Police magazine.

She earned her Masters of Philosophy in Criminal Justice from the Graduate Centre/John Jay College of Criminal Justice-The City University of New York (CUNY) in 2013. She earned her PhD from the same institution.

She also holds a Masters of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

She takes over at a time when the police service is in the spotlight over claims of extra-judicial killings.

In her acceptance of the new position, she promised on her social media platform that she was ready for the task ahead.

“We will deliver with your support and all stakeholders. We are set and need your support,” she wrote.

Dr Onyango becomes the fourth police spokesperson after Shioso, former spokesman Charles Owino and former Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti. Owino had earlier replaced Eric Kiraithe.

Owino had resigned to join politics but was later reinstated by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) in April. He is however yet to be redeployed.

His last assignment was at the National Focal Point on Small Arms where he deputised Charlton Mureithi, now deceased.

Bruno took over from the longest-serving police spokesperson — Owino — in August 2021.

Previously, Shioso served as a Criminal Investigative Officer in Mombasa County and also specialised in Transnational Organised Crime.

Another female officer, Zipporah Gatiria Mboroki, currently head of the DCI Academy also once served as the Kenya Police Service spokesperson.