President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to make key appointments as he enters the second year of his last term in office.
Some of the new appointments are expected in the security sector where top officers are expected to retire after either serving their terms or attaining the mandatory retirement age.
Among them is Inspector General Joseph Boinnet, whose four-year term expires in March with the law barring him from re-appointment for a second term.
This has led to a Intense lobbying over who will replace Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet as the expiry of his term fast approaches.
Among those tipped to replace Boinnet is Edward Njoroge Mbugua, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Police, and Noor Gabbow, the head of Administration Police.
CJ David Maraga today at the Supreme Court presided over the swearing in of Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti and Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Njoroge Mbugua as well as the Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Noor Gabow. pic.twitter.com/ZzUmMZr5Jm
— The Judiciary Kenya (@Kenyajudiciary) January 19, 2018
The appointment of Edward Njoroge Mbugua in Jan 2018 as the acting Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Police Service confirmed the confidence President Uhuru Kenyatta has in him.
He replaced Joel Kitili who also served as head of Presidential Escort at one time. That he is being replaced by Mr Mbugua who is approaching retirement age, speaks volumes of the Head of State’s decison.
The new acting DIG is above 55 years and was to retire had it not been for the new appointment.
The appointment of acting DCI Director General George Kinoti, DIG in charge of Administration Police Noor Gabow and Mbugua’s show the President’s attempt to revamp management of security in the country.
Mbugua has been described by those who have worked with him as a quiet and hard working man.
The former Eastern deputy Provincial Police Officer also worked as the Mombasa County Commander.
“He listens and accepts advice from all and is always interested in others people’s opinion,” a colleague said of Mbugua.
His appointment is expected to trigger major changes of personnel within the Kenya Police Service to reflect national balance.
Insiders reveal that Kitili was replaced to stop alleged favoritism of one community.
On the day he was replaced, he had attended the inauguration of Fundisho Police station at the Kenya Police College, a week before the pass out parade and appointed a senior officer as the deputy commandant of the college and another from the same community as the OCS Fundisho police station to the chagrin of staff.
Shortly after the announcement, he received information of his replacement and instructions to proceed to the Public Service Commission for redeployment.