Japhet Koome: The resigning police boss

Japhet Koome resigns as Inspector General of Police. [File, Standard]

On September 27, 2022, shortly after President William Ruto unveiled his Cabinet nominees, Japhet Koome was proposed as the Inspector General of Police.

At the time, Koome was the Commandant, Kiganjo Police College and was set to replace the ailing Hillary Mutyambai, who had proceeded on terminal leave pending the end of his tenure.

Barely two months later, Koome was sworn in as the fourth Inspector General (IG) of the National Police Service at the Supreme Court buildings.

The new IG would defend the police against claims of brutality, stating that a majority of officers are professional and that only about two percent misbehave.

In a surprising turn of events, the very actions he defended led to his resignation after nearly two years in office.

On Friday, July 12, 2024, President William  Ruto said he had received Koome’s resignation following weeks of mounting calls for his departure from youths, human rights organisations, and political actors.

How did he get here?

During the Azimio la Umoja anti-government demonstrations last year, which claimed several lives, Koome was accused of ordering attacks on protesters and journalists.

The opposition threatened to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to charge Koome and other top police officers, listing nine crimes for the ICC to investigate. Koome dismissed these actions, stating they could not intimidate him.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) also initiated investigations into police brutality, accusing Koome of enabling such actions.

Within the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Koome clashed with non-uniformed members and was accused of sabotaging the body.

In March 2024, NPSC Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia asked Members of Parliament to initiate the process of removing Koome from office, alleging that the police chief undermined the commission's operations, a violation of the law.

In June this year, following the deaths of several protesters during anti-finance bill protests staged by young Kenyans, calls for his resignation intensified.

Despite President Ruto firing his entire Cabinet save for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, the public still demanded Koome’s resignation. T

he Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) joined other political actors and human rights organisations in urging President Ruto to dismiss Koome and Nairobi Police Commander Bungei over alleged cases of police brutality, abductions, and killings of protesters.

“Ruto must immediately fire the IG of Police, the Nairobi Police Commander, and apprehend all police officers implicated in the murders of over 200 innocent Kenyans in peaceful protests since last year,” ODM said in an official statement on Friday, July 12.

Career profile

Koome is a career police officer.

Before he was appointed IG, he served as the Commandant of the National Police Service College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County.

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

Koome, who is also a civil engineer, worked as the principal deputy to then Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua.