Police bosses reshuffled as Govt steps up war on terror

By Cyrus Ombati

The Government has stepped security measures to tame terror threats and reshuffled top police commanders.

More than 700 police officers and reservists have been deployed to Garissa that has recently been hit by a series of attacks.

The changes were announced on Thursday by acting Internal Security Minister Yussuf Haji and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere.

“Vigilante groups will supplement security measures in guarding churches during prayers,” Haji said.

The move comes after the twin terror attacks on Catholic and AIC churches in Garissa which left 17 people dead and dozens injured.

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The changes saw Gideon Kimilu appointed the new Deputy Director of CID while Wanjohi Mwangi is the new Presidential Escort boss.

Wanjohi, formerly head of Recce squad at GSU replaces Mr Joel Kitili who moves to police head headquarters to be in charge of armory.

Among the moved is the North Eastern PPO Leo Nyongesa who moves to police headquarters to head complaints section and his deputy Philip Ndolo will be the deputy head of operations.

The new North Eastern police boss is Mr Philip Tuimur and his deputy will be Mr Noor Gabor while Mr George Losuku is the Garissa OCPD.

North Eastern head of CID Mr John Maritim has too been moved to Western and will be replaced by Mr Vitalis Okumu.

Rift Valley PPO Francis Munyambu swapped positions with his Central counterpart John Mbijiwe while Alfred Ombaba was named as the new police boss for Western province.

The new traffic commandant is Western PPO Benson Kibue Githinji while Joseph ole Tito takes over in Nyanza as PPO.

Nyanza PPO Njue Njagi has been moved to the powerful position of the director of police operations at police headquarters.

Mrs Grace Kaindi was named the head of Kenya Airports Police Unit.

Rift Valley CID boss Francis Njiru has been moved to CID headquarters to head operations section and will replace Mr Kipkemboi Tum who has been moved to Central Province and named the deputy PPO.

Nairobi Area head of CID Peter Muinde has been moved to CID training school as the commandant and will be replaced by Mr Nicholas Kamwende while Mr Julius Kanampiu is the head of logistics at police headquarters.

Others named are Samuel Nyabengi (Rift Valley PCIO), Hamis Masa (head of Anti Narcotics Unit), William Okello (Deputy Director of police operations), John Martim (Western PCIO) and Jecinta Muthoni (CID headquarters personnel).

Iteere also named Douglas Kanja as the head of Recce squad at GSU, Robert Kitur as the deputy Coast PPO, Gerald Mbaabu deputy PPO Western, Willy Lugusa head of operations Rift Valley and David Bunei head of personnel North Eastern province.

The new Langata OCPD is Mr Titus Yoma, Bernard Kioko (OCPD Nakuru), Hariet Wanyama (OCPD Bomet), Wilson Abduba (OCPD Kangundo and Johnstone Ipara (Trans Mara).