Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei addresses the media on planned anti-government protests by opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio coalition, on April 30, 2023.
Adamson Bungei, the outgoing Nairobi police commander who led his colleagues in violent responses to anti-government protests in 2024, is a man whose career has weathered many a controversy.
Currently a senior assistant inspector-general of police by rank, he has been appointed director of operations at Vigilance House.
Depending on whom you ask, the new post could be a promotion or demotion.
For some, it is a promotion on account of Mr Bungei calling the shots in all police operations across the country.
To others, the new job is a demotion because it takes him away from the limelight and forces him to sit behind a desk.
Either way, the new job saved Mr Bungei from the less glamourous and initially planned move back to the Administration Police.
Sources at Vigilance House narrated to the Nation how a phone call by a senior government official saved Mr Bungei from what would have been a certain demotion.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja last week announced changes in the police ranks, as he moved several top brass across the country, including Mr Bungei and former police spokesperson Resila Onyango who is now the diplomatic police commandant.
Being stuck behind a desk may offer Mr Bungei some breathing space, as civil society groups have breathed down his neck, citing the brutal police response to unarmed protestors, which on some occasions turned fatal such as in the case of Rex Masai.
In July, politicians allied to the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper Democratic Movement leaders called for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome and Bungei over alleged police brutality witnessed during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
In a press statement issued then, the Wiper leaders called on Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga to prosecute two police chiefs and hold them accountable for the deaths and injuries during the protests.
“Wiper Democratic Movement demands that IG Japheth Koome (who resigned in July last year) and Nairobi regional commander Adamson Bungei resign from office and accept responsibility for the deaths, injuries, hijackings and abductions of hundreds of young people, some of whom remain unaccounted for," he said.
On July 12, another group of leaders allied to the Raila Odinga-led ODM also put Mr Bungei on the spotlight, calling for his removal from office.
“Ruto must immediately fire the IG of Police (Mr Koome), the Nairobi Police Commander (Mr Bungei), and apprehend all police officers implicated in the murders of over 200 innocent Kenyans in peaceful protests since last year,” the ODM leaders said.
Former IG Koome was seen as the puppeteer, pulling the strings on his juniors that used excessive force to counter protesters.
Bungei was seen as the enforcer in his Nairobi jurisdiction.
George Sedah who has been the Coast Regional police boss takes over as Nairobi police boss.
Ali Nuno, who for months now has served as the Kwale County police chief has been promoted and named the Coast Region police boss taking over from Sedah.
Also affected by the changes include National Police Director of Human Resource Management Rosemary Kuraru, who has been moved to the DCI headquarters and named the director of forensic laboratory.
Former DCI head of forensic investigations. Dr Wanderi Mwangi, takes over at Jogoo House as the director of human resource management.
Wanderi is a seasoned investigator who has risen through the ranks of the police in the DCI where he served for the better part of his career life.
Kiambu County police boss Michael Muchiri is the new National Police Service spokesperson, taking over from Resila Onyango.
Judy Jebet, who previously served as the director of the Internal Affairs Unit, makes a comeback to Vigilance House following her appointment as the director of community policing.
The July protests were not the only incident that saw Bungei come under criticism.
On December 10, Mr Bungei and his officers came under focus as police in Nairobi fired teargas to disperse human rights activists who were protesting against a new wave of murders targeting women.
Police were caught on camera firing teargas at the peaceful protestors, who were walking along Koinange Street.
Police also arrested one of the organisers of the protest.
Mr Bungei was among 60 police officers questioned by the Internal Affairs Unit, which was investigating excessive use of force to quell the peaceful protests.
In 2023 he was also at the forefront of similar violent response to protests by the Azimio la Umoja coalition, which led demonstrations against the rising cost of living.
Prior to his appointment as the Police chief in Nairobi, Mr Bungei served as Buruburu police divisional boss.
Before crossing over to the Kenya Police, Bungei was an Administration Police Commander in Buruburu.
He has also served as Turkana County police commander.
Officers who have interacted closely with Mr Bungei told Nation that the police chief is loved and hated in equal measure amongst colleagues.
“Depending on which side of Mr Bungei you see, as an officer under him, you will have a story to tell. He is a good boss but can also be very firm and strict,” said one of the police chiefs who has served under Bungei for the last two years.
“He can also be very rough,” said another officer who tasted Bungei’s wrath when there was an increase in crime in this officer’s area of command.
