President William Ruto has appointed Douglas Kanja as Kenya’s new Inspector-General of Police Service for a four-year term following his vetting and approval by both Houses of Parliament.
Dr Ruto made the appointment in a gazette notice dated September 18, 2024, just a day after MPs gave the new police the greenlight to assume the office left vacant by the resignation of Japheth Koome as the height of GenZ-led anti-government protests in July.
Mr Kanja was sworn in on Thursday, September 19, by Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Supreme Court in Nairobi, and becomes the sixth Inspector-General since the promulgation of the new Constitution, and the 16th since 1964.
While approving Mr Kanja on Thursday, the Members of Parliament said the former GSU commander was the best candidate for the job with his wealth of experience in the service, having risen from a constable to his current position.
The lawmakers said during the vetting that Mr Kanja was well versed in the security sector and had practical solutions to strengthen security in the country.
LIVE: Senate proceedings on Police IG nominee Douglas Kanja's vetting
But even as they praised Mr Kanja, the MPs warned him against tolerating the culture of enforced disappearances they said had been perpetuated by previous office holders.
He is the immediate former Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police and before he was appointed IG, he served as acting IG following the resignation of Koome.
Mr Koome resigned after criticism of officers’ conduct during the antigovernment demonstrations in which dozens of protesters were killed.
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Following the nomination, Deputy IG (Administration Police) Gilbert Masengeli was appointed Acting IG.
The Mr Masengeli came under sharp criticism for failing to comply with court orders, and has been at loggerheads with the Judiciary after he withdrew security from High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi.
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Last week, Judge Mugambi sentenced Masengeli to six months in jail for failing to comply with a record seven court summons to explain the whereabouts of activist Bob Micheni Njagi and two brothers, Jamil and Aslam Longton, who were allegedly abducted by people believed to be police.
