Japhet Koome: A profile of President Ruto's nominee for IG

Japhet Koome, if approved by Parliament, will replace Hillary Mutyambai as the Inspector-General of Police.

His name was proposed by President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 27, shortly after the Head of State unveiled his Cabinet nominees.

President Ruto said an ailing Mutyambai, whose contract ends in six months' time (April 2023), has taken terminal leave to aid his recovery process.

Mutyambai's potential replacement, Japhet Koome, is a career police officer.

Koome, a Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police, is the current Commandant of the National Police Service College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County. He took over from King'ori Mwangi.

Koome, who is also a Civil Engineer, previously served as the Nairobi Regional Commander of Police.

He also served as the Sub-County Police Commander of Central Police Station in Nairobi.

After his stint as Nairobi regional police boss, Koome was posted to the Police Headquarters, where he served as the principal deputy of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Edward Mbugua.

If Koome is approved by Parliament, the position of Commandant of Kiganjo Police College will fall vacant, occasioning the need for realignment.

Article 245 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya says the President nominates the Inspector-General of Police, who is vetted for approval by Parliament.

Section Six of the Article says "The Inspector-General of Police shall be appointed for a single four-year term, and is not eligible for re-appointment."