Senators have approved Douglas Kanja's nomination by President William Ruto  to become the next Inspector General after vetting by a joint parliamentary committee.

Kanja now awaits approval from the National Assembly before taking over the National Police Service (NPS).

Kanja was vetted and approved by the joint committee of National Assembly Administration and Internal Security and Senate Internal Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations.

Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, who chairs the Senate Internal Security and Defence Committee, moved the motion, which was unanimously endorsed by senators.

“Committees having considered the suitability, competence, experience and integrity of Mr. Douglas Kanja Kirocho, CBS, OGW following the approval process, and taking into account its observations and findings.”

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“And pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, (Cap. 7F), the National Police Service Act, (Cap. 84), the National Assembly Standing Orders and the Senate Standing Orders, recommend that Parliament approves the nomination of Mr. Douglas Kanja Kirocho, CBS, OGW for appointment as the Inspector-General of the National Police Service,” he added.

Supporting the motion, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni urged Kanja to curtail the impunity of police officers hiding their faces while arresting suspects, saying it is against the law.

“Why should the police arrest people while hiding their faces? Are they thugs? Anybody arresting me, I should be able to know who that person is, I should have a right to inform my lawyer. I want Kenyans to be arrested the way Senator Mandago was arrested,” he said.

Kanja will be sworn into office once the National Assembly, on recess, approves him for the position.

The position fell vacant after the former Inspector General Japhet Koome resigned after criticism of officers’ conduct during recent antigovernment demonstrations in which dozens of protesters were killed.