Parliament is seeking input from Kenyans on the nomination of Douglas Kanja as Inspector General of Police. The vetting process will be conducted jointly by MPs and Senators. The National Assembly's departmental committee on Administration and Internal Security and the Senate's standing committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations will undertake this exercise next week.
In a joint notice issued by the clerks of both Houses, the public has been invited to submit their views by August 12. "In accordance with section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the Committees now invite interested members of the public to submit any representations, by written statements on oath (affidavits), with supporting evidence, on the suitability of the nominee for appointment to office," the notice states.
Submissions can be hand-delivered to the clerks' offices or emailed to [email protected] and [email protected].
President William Ruto nominated Kanja on July 25, following the resignation of Japhet Koome on July 12. Kanja, who was the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Kenya Police Service, was appointed acting IG after Koome's resignation.
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"In accordance with Article 245 (2) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President has nominated Douglas Kanja Kirocho for appointment as the Inspector-General of the National Police Service," Ruto said in a statement.
Kanja has a distinguished career in law enforcement spanning nearly four decades, rising through the ranks to the top command of the Service. He has served in various high-level positions, including Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service, Commandant and Deputy Commandant of the General Service Unit, and County Police Commander of Kilifi County. He has also held roles such as Deputy Commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, Chief Armourer at Police Headquarters, and Deputy Chief Armourer at the Kenya Police Service Headquarters.
The IG nominee has received extensive security-related training both domestically and internationally. Kanja began his career as a recruit Police Constable in 1985 and has since progressed through the ranks, holding titles such as Police Constable, Police Corporal, Acting Inspector of Police, Inspector of Police, Chief Inspector of Police, Acting Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector General, and Senior Assistant Inspector General.
