From: erasto agwanda

LOBBYING AND JOSTLING BY KENYA’S TOP COPS FOR CONSIDERATION AS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIRECTOR BOSS.

By Agwanda Powaman

Hardly has the dust settled after the burial of immediate former Criminal Investigations Department Director the late Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Gatiba Karanja, now there is strong lobbying and jostling among the senior most police officers within the country as they attempt to catch the President’ eye in regard to the appointment of the late’s replacement.

Many within the department say that one of their own should head the unit while some believes that an “outsider” can bring sanity to the unit.

However, the prerogative of the appointment of the said will lay squarely with President Kibaki and being the unpredictable man he is,he is likely to either choose the said from the current crop of senior police officers and bring a total “outsider” to head it just like he brought in former Police Commissioner Major Hussein Ali.

Just who are the likely people the President might consider for the post?

1-Joseph Henry Ashimalla-

He is presently Kenya Police Training College Deputy Commandant; he is a career policeman having served at anti-banking fraud unit as well as being in charge of operations in North Eastern Province as well as being Nyanza Deputy Provincial Police Officer as well as being Rift Valley Police boss.

He co-ordinated one of the best police operations in Nyanza during the 2007 general elections.

2-Grace Kaindi .

The first woman Provincial Police Officer courtesy of former Police boss Hussein Ali, she has served most of her police career life at the CID training school where she was fished out to head Nyanza Police.

She is presently a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the entire complaints of the Kenya police, she might not be over looked given that she’s coming from Kamba tribe which is not in bad books with President Kibaki.

3-Sebastian Ndaru.

He is presently an Assistant Commissioner of Police and Nyanza Provincial Criminal Investigations Officer,he formerly led police Flying Squad at Pangani where he achieved so much and managing to containing crime within Nairobi.

He is a crime buster and a lead investigator and coming from Kirinyaga area might make the President consider him for the post given that the lot from that area has always been on his side.

He is a career detective

4-Peter Eregae

He is presently deputy Director at the Criminal Investigations Department, many within the CID quarters says that he is slightly the best for the seat but his coming from Teso a minority tribe is likely to cost him, however they argue that he can turn around the entire force if he’s elevated to the post.

5-Peter Kavila

The current Commandant Kiganjo Policce Training College, he once acted as the head of CID but later was “demoted” as a PPO in Westerrn Province, a move which was seen by many people within the force that he was never regarded with a high esteem, given his advanced age, he stands a real remote chance.

6-Francis Okonya.

A luo by tribe, Okonya was the late Gatiba’s Deputy’s Commissioner, however many within the CID wing says that he is “a Simon Makonde” having risen to his current post without any proven credentials and purely on opportunism and luck, he has not been given any operational role within the police force to test his ability.

Given the perception the current regime has towards members of his luo community, he is likely to be retained where he is presently.

7-David Kimaiyo.

Kimaiyo is currently the National Focal Point Director, however his chances of being the country’s top most sleuth is real nil as he comes from a tribe which is believed to have murdered most of President Kibaki’s tribesmen.

He does not stand much chance.

8-Gideon Kimillu

He is in-charge of Investigations at the CID, given that there are DCPs; Kaindi and Kavila who are his seniors and coming from the same tribes as he, Kimilu, is still likely to be where he is presently or be taken to the field with the impending reshuffles.

Coupled with his age he’ll have to slightly wait longer.

9-Anthony Mugo Kibuchi.

The current Nairobi Provincial Police Officer and one of the few experienced police officers still within the force.

He is a police officer who’ve been in the police all his years, though he is on contract many are of the view that he is best suited for the post given that he comes from Kirinyaga and likely to protect the interest of the authorities.

A no non-sense officer who has made Nairobi to be zero –free from criminal elements.

10-Marcus Ocholla.

He is presently a Provincial Police Officer in Eastern Province and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, if the President was to look for CID boss from among the current PPO’s then he is the one best suited for the post.

However his main undoing is that he a luo a tribe which is associated with Prime Minister Raila Odinga who many see as a trouble maker for the country.

11-Abdul Maka Mzee

He is North Eastern PPO, given that the last time President Kibaki picked a CID from one among the then PPO’s, most of them are keeping their fingers crossed.

He comes from a minority tribe which is known for their zeal and indecisiveness when it comes to work and should be elevated then many see a boss who will never lead from in front.

12-John Mbijiwe Kaua.

The Central Province Police boss, he stands a higher chance of being the next CID boss that is if the seat is to remain within Mt.Kenya.

He has all it takes to head the office and many keeps guessing if he’ll be the ultimate man.

13-Leo Nyongesa

He is the Coast PPO and a luhya by tribe, he comes second to DCP Ashimalla when it comes to seniority and many within the force are of the view that should the President opt for aluhya, then Ashimalla is best suited for the seat.

14-Francis Munyambu

The current Rift Valley police boss who relieved Ashimalla from Western Province, he is lackluster officer who would not wish to be in the limelight.

He hails from Ukambani,where Kimilu,Kaindi,Kavila comes from and if the post has to go to a Kamba then he is the best suited for the post.

A laid back officer who any government can work with.

15-Njue Njagi.

Nyanza police head, Njagi hails from Mt.Kenya and can be best suited for the seat.

However given that he is on a contract, his chances look slimmer unless the President decides otherwise.

16-King’ori Mwangi.

He is currently Western Province police boss, his controversial leaving of Coast Province and the intended demo against him when he arrived in Western Kenya made him loose so many valuable points which would have made him to be considered for the post given that he has a good rapport with the first family.

However with President Kibaki being the unpredictable person he is, he might be considered.

All in all, the President might opt for an outsider many of who may not have been thought of.

ENDS