What can Kanja expect if he is approved as the next Inspector General of Police?

On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security and the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations will review the nomination of Douglas Kanja Kirocho for the position of Inspector General (IG) of the Kenya Police.

Should Kanja be confirmed as the next IG, he will face a familiar set of challenges, including resource shortages and low morale among personnel. These resources are crucial for implementing proposed reforms aimed at improving the police service.

Kanja, the former Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police and Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU), has recently stepped out of service following his nomination by President William Ruto. He had briefly acted as IG before his official nomination, necessitating his departure to prepare for the confirmation hearings.

The confirmation session will be co-chaired by Gabriel Tongoyo, MP for Narok West, and William Cheptumo, MP for Baringo County. Kanja is hopeful for a successful vetting process.

Significant reforms pending in the service will depend on the efforts of police commanders and the political class, who are tasked with ensuring better service delivery. These reforms are outlined in a report by the National Taskforce on Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service and other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service, National Youth Service, and Kenya Prisons Service.

Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has been spearheading meetings to secure financing for these reforms. Kanja had previously issued an internal memo encouraging police officers to embrace the proposed changes.

According to Dr. Omollo, the government requires Sh108 billion to implement comprehensive reforms over a four-year period from 2024 to 2028. However, the upcoming budget does not allocate the necessary Sh15 billion for these changes, though more than Sh3 billion has been budgeted for proposed salary increments.

The strategic framework for these reforms, developed in consultation with stakeholders since February, identifies four key areas: leadership in the three services, oversight and accountability, institutional capacity development, and operational preparedness and logistical capability.

The Maraga Taskforce submitted its report to President Ruto in November 2023, detailing 598 specific reform areas. Of these, 271 pertain to the police, 210 to the National Youth Service, and 117 to the prison service. The reforms have been categorized into four broad areas, with 291 recommendations identified for implementation through administrative action and 177 requiring financial resources. Some reforms will need policy and legislative changes or further consultation.

Under Section 11 of the National Police Service Act, the IG must be a Kenyan citizen with a degree from a recognized university, a distinguished career, and meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution. Kanja, with a nearly four-decade career in law enforcement, has held numerous high-level positions within the National Police Service. He has extensive training in security both locally and internationally, having risen through the ranks from a recruit Police Constable in 1985 to his current nomination.