Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja’s speech in one of President William Ruto’s political rallies in the ongoing tour of Mt Kenya has triggered outrage over perceived dabbling in politics by security chiefs.
Mr Kanja is the latest security boss to ignite a storm for apparently being drawn into political developments after Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri last week warned against the ‘Ruto must go’ campaign, as he explained that the change of the country’s leadership must be done within the Constitution.
Gen Kahariri spoke at the National Intelligence and Research University in Nairobi during a public lecture by National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss Noordin Haji who cautioned “divisive politics has found new breeding ground on our social media platforms.”
In his official regalia, Mr Kanja on Wednesday addressed a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County on Tuesday in the company of President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in an unprecedented move that has raised questions over the independence of his office from the presidency.
Mr Kanja, who was invited to the podium by Prof Kindiki, asked the locals if they were ‘happy and grateful’ over the President’s visit.
“Are you happy to see our President here? Do you want him to come back again? We are still doing our work,” said Mr Kanja, who spoke in Kikuyu.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and political leaders yesterday described Mr Kanja’s appearance in the political rally as a worrying trend by the security chiefs. They accused Mr Kanja of turning the office into a conduit of advancing ethno-political balkanisation. This as they challenged him to resign if he wants to engage in partisan politics.
But Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga in a statement said the IG’s presence in Nyeri was strictly in line with his official duties, including oversight of security arrangements during the President’s development tour.
He said the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) is legally tasked with protecting the President, visiting dignitaries, and other designated VIPs under the direction of the Inspector General of Police.
Mr Nyaga said that since mid-March, the IG has been on an operational tour across Baringo, Samburu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Laikipia, and Meru Counties.
“NPS categorically refutes these claims and reaffirms the IG’s unwavering commitment to constitutional impartiality in serving all Kenyans, devoid of political bias. At no time has the IG engaged in activities that could undermine the neutrality of his office,” said Mr Nyaga.
He had earlier told the Nation that “There is no way he can mix politics with his professional duties. He remains apolitical and would continue discharging his duties professionally. His mandate does not allow him to get into politics.”
In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo demanded for an immediate public apology over Mr Kanja’s ‘unbecoming conduct’, which he said has the potential of compromising the police service.
“We equally demand that MrKanja forthwith withdraws and restrains from engaging in any political mobilisation, rallies and/or discourse, especially in his official capacity as the Inspector-General of Police. We believe that the Inspector-General’s work is cut out for him, and is too demanding to allow such unpalatable sideshows, lapses in judgement, and misplaced priorities,” said Ms Odhiambo.
“In the alternative, we invite Mr Kanja to step aside from the position of Inspector-General and allow the role to be occupied by an individual willing to serve all Kenyans without imposing their political biases on the people of Kenya,” she said.
LSK cited Article 245(1) of the Constitution which spells out the IG’s independent command over the National Police Service.
Ms Odhiambo said the IG is constitutionally required to act impartially and is exempt from acting at the whims of any person or to advance any purpose other than the constitutional principles of national security.
The society also cited Section 23(2) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 that prohibits state officers from engaging in political activities that may compromise the political neutrality of the offices they hold.
“We are apprehensive that the words uttered by Mr Kanja to a politically charged audience, asking whether they were happy with the president and would wish to have him return, is riddled with connotations of political backing and constitute a veiled endorsement of the political agenda that was being appropriated at the rally,” she said.
LSK said that Mr Kanja’s actions are in direct conflict with the Constitution, statute, and the National Police Service Standing Orders as he reduced his high office to a conduit of advancing ethno-political balkanisation.
She said the IG’s actions has exposed him to the risk of removal from office under the provisions of Article 245(7).
He claimed that the President had even tried using chiefs and their assistants for political mobilisation in his ongoing five-day tour of the region. He claimed that the police have been actively involved in the rallies after the chiefs declined to be “used”.
“Ruto has compromised all independent institutions. When you have to bring the police on-board for political mobilisation, it means you have lost the legitimacy to govern.”
“It is unfortunate that they have taken us back to the old days when the police was an extension of the executive. This is a major compromise of the police service,” said Mr Kioni.
Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru alias MejjaDonk, a close ally of Mr Gachagua, said the action by Mr Kanja is likely to compromise the impartiality of junior officers in the service.
“Kanja has become an extended arm of the Executive. This will kill the confidence people have in the police,” said Mr Gathiru.
“Those holding such high offices should serve the people according to the constitution or they should resign and go play politics.’’
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, however, defended Mr Kanja, saying there was nothing wrong since it was a presidential function.
He said the President’s trip to Mt Kenya is a development tour, where the government is spelling out its programmes to the people. He, however, noted that it would be a matter of serious concern if the IG decided to engage in political rhetoric.
“Nothing prohibits the IG from attending a presidential function. The President is on a development tour. That is why you see him accompanied by State officers. But he has to know that his office is an independent one and should serve all Kenyans,” said Mr Mwangangi.
Last Thursday while speaking at the National Intelligence and Research University, Mr Kahariri said Kenyans must not allow anarchy at the expense of the law.
“Even as people exercise their rights, we should be within limits and bounds so that we don’t tear our country apart.”
“As military our co-value is that we are apolitical. We don’t support any political camp. We defend the Constitution and the government of the day,” Mr Kahariri asserted.
He went on: “So when some people say they are tired of this government, a government they elected on their own and say ‘must go,’ that ‘must go,’ must be done according to the constitution.”
Mr Kahariri’s remarks had also triggered uproar from politicians, who accused him of attempting to interfere with the country’s democratic space.
“Divisive politics has found a new breeding ground on our social media platforms. This is polarising our people and undermining national cohesion, yet national cohesion goes hand in hand with national security and national interest,” the NIS boss said.
He cautioned that political competition should not morph into a state of national instability that can fuel public anger.
Mr Haji urged for unity among Kenyan communities, warning that “weaponisation of ethnicity only sow divisions and manipulate society, thus posing a threat to Kenyas unity and political stability.”
Mr Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua are some of the leaders who called out the KDF chief.
Ms Karua termed Mr Kahariri’s utterances as “egregious affront to Articles 1(1),(2), 2(2), 3,
“The sovereignty of the Kenyan people, and the supremacy of the Constitution are matters that have been settled both in our jurisprudence and political culture as an aspiring democracy,” Ms Karua wrote.
She termed it disturbing, that the head of an institution “as disciplined as the armed forces should descend into the arena of partisan politics, and purport to direct Kenyans on how far they should exercise their hard-won liberties and rights.”
Mr Musyoka had also accused Mr Kahariri of an attempt to curtail the freedom of expression as provided for in the constitution.
“We’ve heard our security chiefs’ remarks. Kenyans must wake up to the President’s threatening stance on civil liberties. This illegal notice deploying KDF against Gen-Z protests must be withdrawn immediately,” said Mr Kalonzo.
Mr Gachagua had also faulted the security chief, telling him not to mix politics with the affairs of the military.
