Ruto nominates Douglas Kanja for appointment as Police IG

Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja at Jogoo House, Nairobi on July 14, 2024. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

President William Ruto has nominated Douglas Kanja for appointment to the position of Inspector General of Police.

In a statement on Thursday, July 25, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced that the nomination followed a recommendation by the National Police Service Commission, but is pending approval by Parliament.

Kanja's nomination comes weeks after former Police Inspector General Japhet Koome resigned after nearly two years of service.

Following Koome's resignation, Kanja was appointed Acting Inspector General, a role that will now be assumed by the newly appointed Deputy Inspector General, Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli in the interim.

Before his nomination as Police IG, Kanja served as Deputy IG of NPS and as Commandant of the General Service Unit for five years.

He also served as Deputy Commandant of the General Service Unit for three years, County Police Commander in Kilifi County, and Deputy Commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, among other high-level roles in the National Police Service.

Members of the National Assembly are expected to vet Kanja, and if approved, he will be sworn in as Kenya’s next Inspector General of Police, and the second in Ruto’s administration.