Former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo insists that he chose to voluntarily resign from the service contrary to claims that he was fired.
The soft spoken former cop left office in December 2014 following increased Al-Shabaab attacks within the country.
Before his departure, a number of teachers and casuals had been killed in Mandera. Also, dozens of people died in Westgate attack in Nairobi.
In an interview with the Nation, Kimaiyo however, said he decided to leave. Alternatively, he said, be would have stayed in office until President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed a tribunal to investigate him.
“Contrary to claims that I was pushed out, I decided to leave on my own volition. I could have chosen to stay and wait for the President to appoint a tribunal to investigate me as the law required then, but I did not,” he said.
Kimaiyo was replaced by Joseph Boinett who has since retired. He briefly served as chairman Kenya Airport Authority before his replacement in 2016.
Having lost Elgeyo-Marakwet Senatorial race in 2017, Kimaiyo said that he will contest the seat again in 2022 still on KANU ticket.
“I do not want to be confined within the county. A national figure like me ought not to be operating within the county.
"As senator, I will do much more than as governor. When you are operating at the national level you can easily influence the distribution of more resources to the county. I want to be in the Senate,” he said.