The National Police Service (NPS) has made significant leadership changes in a reshuffle announced by Inspector General Douglas Kanja.
Resila Onyango, formerly the National Police Service spokesperson, has been appointed Commandant of the Diplomatic Police Unit. She is succeeded by Michael Nyaga Muchiri, previously the Kiambu County Commander, as the new spokesperson.
In other major moves, Adamson Bungei, the Nairobi Region Police Commander, has been transferred to the Kenya Police Service headquarters as the Director of Operations. He replaces William Yiampoy, the former Presidential Escort Commander, whose next deployment remains pending.
Bungei’s role as Nairobi Police Commander will now be filled by George Sedah, who previously served as the Coast Regional Police Commander. Sedah’s former position has been taken over by Ali Nuno, the former Kwale County Police Commander. Nuno, promoted to his new role, is tasked with addressing the Mombasa gangs and drug issues.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also seen key leadership transitions. Mwangi Wanderi, head of the National Forensics Laboratory, has been appointed as the Director of Human Capital at Jogoo House and the Principal Assistant to IG Kanja. He swaps roles with Rosemary Kuraru, who takes over at the Forensics Laboratory.
Michael Sang, who led the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) at DCI, has been transferred to the Eastern region as the Regional Head of DCI.
Other Notable Transfers
- Judy Jebet is the new head of Community Policing, replacing John Gachomo, who has been moved to police headquarters for redeployment.
- Rhoda Kinanu, formerly the Commandant of the Diplomatic Police Unit, has also been transferred to police headquarters for redeployment.
- Daniel Korir, Eastern Regional Head of DCI, is now the Commandant of Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU).
- Advocate Amos Omuga, head of legal services at DCI, has been moved to NPS headquarters in the same capacity and replaced by Augustine Kittony, his former deputy.
Human Rights Concerns Surrounding Bungei
The appointment of Adamson Bungei as the Director of Operations has sparked renewed scrutiny over his leadership record. Bungei, who became Nairobi Police Commander in November 2022, previously served as the Baringo County Police Commander and held roles in Nairobi as the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) for Buruburu and Central.
During his tenure in Nairobi, allegations of human rights violations and excessive use of force emerged. “The chaos and violence witnessed during the opposition-led anti-government protests in March 2023 are a blot on his record,” opposition leader Raila Odinga stated. Odinga threatened to pursue legal action against Bungei both locally and internationally.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has since launched investigations into police conduct during the Gen Z protests in June 2024. IPOA emphasized that “senior police commanders will face criminal liability if investigations fail to identify individual officers involved in the shooting of protesters.”
Police headquarters described the reshuffle as “normal changes aimed at improving operations.”
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