The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti has restructured the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), in a shakeup that saw several officers deployed to general duties.

The shake-up affected ten officers in the inspectorate and approximately 190 in the cadres of constables, corporals and sergeants.

Kinoti said his decision is meant to enhance efficiency and performance among the officers.

“Others who were presumed to be ineffective have been re-deployed in new stations as general investigators,” Kinoti said.

CRIB was formed by Kinoti in 2018 to profile criminals, undertake research and analysis in crime and to identify crime patterns and trends.

Kinoti says CRIB has been the backbone of intelligence-driven operations, as they work hand in hand with special units such as the Special Service Unit.

Powerful monster

Unlike Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) that was accused of snooping on fellow officers whom they threatened and intimidated, CRIB has been rather professional in its work.

Before it was disbanded in 2018, CIU had morphed into a powerful monster, controlling all the police transfers, alleged extra judicial killings, promotions and disciplinary cases. 

 Several officers in all ranks accused their colleagues in CIU of victimisation.

Since its formation, CRIB unit headed by an officer in the rank of Commissioner of Police, has been credited with cracking high profile cases such as the murders of Tob Cohen, Catholic priest Michael Kyengo and several armed robberies.

Kinoti said action on some of the officers was taken as a result of information received in confidence through the recently launched toll-free crime reporting hotline.

While launching the service two weeks ago, Kinoti had disclosed that the  call centre will  be manned at all hours by specially vetted DCI officers from different fields. 

Those manning the call centre are officers trained in customer relations and can speak several languages, including Somali, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Italian.

Fear of disclosures

“The move which comes days to Christmas and New year holidays is meant to enhance intelligence collection and sharing capability of the DCI, to ensure wananchi enjoy their holidays and report crimes and suspected incidents of terrorism anonymously without fear of disclosures,” Kinoti said.

In a police signal signed by Simon Mwangi Wanderi on behalf of Kinoti, some of the CRIB officers were removed from the unit and deployed to the Regular Police, where they will now be forced to put on uniforms.

Senior officers affected include Chief Inspectors Wendy Kenda who moves from the Inspector General’s office to Nairobi Regional Criminal Investigations Office, Paul Abaya from DCI headquarters to Central Police station, Remesis Kipkosgei from Banisa to Makadara, Sammy Mbarani from Nairobi area to Nyanza.

Others are Jared Wessonga from Thika to Makadara, Bernard Wanyoike from Juja to Nyeri and John Jaldesa from Doldol to Dagoretti.

Also the list are Inspectors Michael Kamau Nyarara from Kasarani to Thika, Peter Kiriiru Mureithi from Thika to Kassarani, Peter Oyatsi from Nairobi to Vihiga, Simon Mugambi from Takaba to Ruiru and Leyrice Ligaka Mukutsi from JKIA to Gucha.

Wanderi said the officers are supposed to report to their new stations by January 4, 2021.