President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday nominated six people to National Police Service Commission which will eventually recruit a new Inspector General of Police, reports the Standard.
The new members will however be subjected to parliament for vetting before formally taking over from Johnstone Kavuludi led team whose mandate expired.
Eliud Kinuthia will chair the team and Lilian Kiamba, Eusibius Laibuta, Naftali Kipchirchir Rono, Alice Atieno Otwala and John Ole Mayaki are members of the commission whose powers include to "interview persons for purposes of filling vacancies in the Service taking into consideration gender, county and ethnic balancing."
Mr Joseph Boinet, who had taken over from Joseph Kimaiyo, will have his non-renewable four-year contract expiring on March this year. The IG is an automatic member of NPSC.
Other members of the commission are Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Njoroge Mbugua and that of AP Noor Gabow, two former police officers, a chairperson qualified to be appointed as High Court Judge and three persons of integrity who have served the public with distinction.
NPSC takes care of the affairs of the police, including keeping under review all matters relating to standards or qualifications required of members of the service and with the advice of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, determine the appropriate remuneration and benefits of officers.
With intensive lobbying going on, Mr Gabow and Mbugua are said to be front-runners to replace Boinet in March.
The two were promoted albeit controversially a year ago by President Uhuru Kenyatta.Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti and Chief Spy Philip Kameru are also said to be favourites for the top post.
The successor to Boinet will be the third to hold the post since the promulgation of the new constitution.