Congratulations are in order for Inspector General of Police Joseph Kipchirchir Boinett after he was eventually sworn in on Wednesday, two months after the President appointed him.
In a change of tradition, Mr Boinett was sworn-in at the Supreme Court by Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Atieno Amadi. In the past, the police chief was sworn in at State House.
Now, I hear there was a sigh of relief in North Rift after the swearing in, as the appointment is seen as a political reward for the Rift Valley.
This is also in order, but his call of duty is now national. During his vetting by a joint Senate and National Assembly team, the Inspector General pledged to act speedily on intelligence reports and fill gaps in our security apparatus.
He also promised to serve Kenyans without discrimination. That is how it should be, because he may hail from the North Rift, but his position is national.
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The new IG also promised to confront endemic corruption within the Police Service without fear of favour. It will be good for him to note that the Kenyan Police has consistently ranked highly on the corruption index.
But striking a fatal blow to this vice in the Police Service will need a strict IG and one who is able to win the confidence of the highest office in the land and ordinary Kenyans.
Kenya is today grappling with pockets of insecurity, including highway robberies and murders. Just recently, Kabete MP George Muchai was killed along a major street in Nairobi.
That the hitmen were able to strike and kill three other people in the early morning attack, just a few metres from a Police Post, demonstrates the spiralling state of insecurity. Still, the late Muchai was an MP accorded State security.
Nairobi, as the financial, political and social hub of the region, should have a functioning CCTV system, on a 24-hour basis.
As the IG, Boinett must lead the process of identifying and acting on new crime trends to assure Kenyans and our visitors of their security.
Coming from an intelligence-gathering system, the new IG should also help the Police Service bust crime cartels in the city and across the 47 counties.
Already, there are high expectations among residents and leaders from conflict-prone counties of Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot and Samburu.
The new IG must not disappoint them. He must work hard to get a lasting solution to the cattle rustling menace in these regions.
The new IG also has the opportunity to crack the whip on so-called vigilante groups spread across the country, who have instead turned into criminal bands, terrorising residents at night.
Terrorism is another challenge, which Mr Boinett must confront and provide new ways of combating the vice.
Just last Thursday, the Al-Shabaab attacked Mandera Govenor Ali Roba's convoy, injured several people and hijacked one of his vehicles.
My advice to Mr Boinett is to revitalise the Nyumba Kumi initiative and encourage more Kenyans to participate in policing matters.
He should instil confidence in Kenyans to walk into a police station and report any suspicious happenings or individuals in their neighbourhoods.
Majority of Kenyans shy away from giving information to the police for fear of victimisation, especially in high-profile crimes such as murder.
Mr Boinett must help end this and create a rapport between the police and ordinary Kenyans.
The new IG comes into office amid numerous challenges in the Police Service itself. He must, therefore, confidently address the issues and win the support of fellow officers and Kenyans in general. Over to you, Mr Inspector General of Police, and good luck!
