Enmity Brewing between Boinnet and Kinoti over ranks

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The quest to remain in power and to be the one calling shots has always the ultimate desire for most government officials. No one wants to be stripped of the power.

Inspector General Joseph Boinnet and DCI chief George Kinoti are battling over pending reforms that would strip detectives of their rank and require them to report to uniformed officers.

The two openly crossed swords at a meeting at DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road last Saturday.

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The session was called to contain a falling out between uniformed officers and their plainclothes colleagues over changes instituted by the National Police Service Commission.

The leadership and reporting changes are among far-reaching reforms also involving a dramatic change in uniform to non-militaristic blue, better housing, a new reporting structure for the Administration, Traffic and other police formations.

Kinoti is said to be pushing for review of the changes announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 13, requiring the more or less independent DCI officers to report to regional police commanders. Technically, the DCI chief is personally expected to report to the IG.

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Boinnet has remained adamant, however, that the streamlined more cohesive structure announced by the President would not be altered.

Several persons attending the Saturday meeting said Boinnet urged the DCI to find alternative ways to redeploy senior officers who fear the changes will see them lose their rank, offices and status.

The Administrative Police, commanded by DIG Noor Gabow, will now focus on protective and border security and combat cattle rusting and banditry.

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The regular police under command of DIG Edward Mbugua will focus on public safety and security.

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will focus on criminal investigations.

Most contested is the plan for DCI chiefs of all ranks to report to new commanders, the uniformed police, whom many consider inferior.

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In the current set up, the office of the DCI is semi-autonomous, meaning its officers report directly to their seniors in the same department.

Tension has been brewing at the DCI after Uhuru made the announcement at the Kenya School of Government. All senior police chiefs save for Kinoti were present at the event attended by civil society groups and diplomats.

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At the end of the Saturday meeting, it was resolved that the DCI would present the grievances to higher authorities.

“The boss (DCI) has ruled that at the moment we should work without any competition as he seeks audience with higher authorities,” a senior police official said.

Who do you think will win this battle for ranks?

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