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Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s lead bodyguard Papita Ranka has been named the new North Eastern Region Police commander in changes that affected over 15 senior police commanders.

The Director of Logistics at the Administration Police Service (APS) headquarters Dr Masoud Mwinyi has also been named the Principal Deputy of the Deputy Inspector General of APS.

Masoud replaces Davis Lumwatu who has been appointed the Commandant, National Police Service College, Embakasi ‘A’ campus.

In changes, the acting Inspector General who is also the DIG APS Gilbert Masengeli moved the college commandant, James Kamau to head the Border Police Unit (BPU).

Kamau, who had also acted as DIG APS for about two weeks, replaces John Shamala who has been moved to head the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).

Shamala has replaced Lawrence Owino, an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) who was transferred to Rift Valley and named the regional boss.

The Director training at APS headquarters Ibrahim Jillo was named the deputy Commandant Embakasi A campus while Lazarus Opicho who was based at APS headquarters was moved to Security of Government Buildings (SGB) and named the Commandant.

Director Logistics

Opicho has replaced Wambua Kisyungu who has been appointed the new Director Logistics. Also transferred is the Director Research and Training Dr Mark Leleruk was moved and named the Director Training and Reforms while Chridtine Temko was moved from Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) in Athi River to Director Legal at APS headquarters.

These are the first changes Masengeli is making as the DIG APS. He however did not name a new commander for the Special Operations Group (SOG) which he led until his movement to APS headquarters in July 2024. The SOG is charged with fighting terrorism at the border regions.

The DIG Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat has also transferred the North Eastern police boss
Bundi Muriithi to police headquarters, Vigilance House. DIG Lagat also moved all police commanders from Garissa and Mandera Counties.

Mandera County police commander Samuel Mutunga and his Garissa counterpart John Sichei were moved and new commanders posted there.

In the changes, Kwale police boss Stephen Ng’etich was moved to police headquarters and
replaced by Ali Nuno.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin has also replaced the head of Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) Wilhem Kimutai after he attained the mandatory retirement age. The new head of LFIU is Juma Mashua formerly of Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and police operations at headquarters.

The new North Eastern boss, from the GSU’ Recce company will now be tasked with coordinating operations in the area that has been facing attacks. The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is usually breached by the terror groups who come and attack in the region and escape back.