Hillary Nzioki Mutyambai has been sworn in as the new Inspector General of Police (IG). He was sworn in on Monday by the Chief Justice (CJ) David Maraga at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
Mutyambai takes over from Joseph Boinnet and becomes the third IG since the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. Mutyambai is a former Deputy Director in charge of Counter-Terrorism at the National Inteligence Service (NIS).
As he takes over the IG's office, Mutyambai must hit the road running and address pertinent issues in the police force. Here is what IG Mutyambai must quickly address once he settles in office.
Police reforms
Mutyambai must fast-track police reforms which include among other things police welfare, housing and working conditions. Police officers have been lamenting over poor pay and poor working conditions especially those in hardship and marginalized areas. Outgoing IG Boinnet had started the reforms which led to the unveiling of new police uniforms.
Corruption
The National Police Service has been associated with corruption for many years. The police force especially the traffic department allegedly tops on corruption and bribery. Mutyambai must stamp his authority and bring to an end case of bribery among some men and women in uniform. He must work with other agencies like Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC), the DCI and the DPP to ensure corrupt officers are removed from the police service.
Extrajudicial killings
Human rights activists have often accused the police of allegedly being involved in extrajudicial killings.
The activists among them Haki Afrika group claims that police are behind killings of innocent Kenyans, especially in slum areas. In March DPP Noordin Haji warned police officers allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings. Haji said he will write to IG to investigate police officers suspected to be involved in extrajudicial killigs. The DPP raised concerns over Hessy Wa Dandora, a person suspected to be a police officer who has been linked to the killing of suspected criminals in Kayole and other informal settlements in Nairobi. With his experience, there is no doubt that the former spy will deliver on his mandate.
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