The National Assembly has officially approved the appointment of Douglas Kanja Kirocho as Kenya’s new Inspector General (IG) of the National Police Service (NPS).
Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, the co-chairperson joint parliamentary committee on the vetting of a nominee for appointment as the IG on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, moved a special motion on the consideration of Kanja’s nomination for the top police job.
The House considered the committee’s report on Kanja’s vetting and approved his nomination as the next police IG.
Kanja’s approval by MPs has now paved the way for formal appointment by President William Ruto.
The National Assembly’s approval follows a similar process in the Senate.
Senators last month unanimously approved Kanja’s nomination to become the next police IG.
The joint committee of National Assembly Administration and Internal Security and Senate Internal Security, Defence and Foreign Relations earlier vetted and approved Kanja.
Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who chairs the Senate Internal Security and Defence Committee moved the motion, which was unanimously endorsed by Senators on August 20, 2024.
Kanja, the career policeman who started from the bottom, is now a step away from assuming office after securing the Senate and National Assembly’s approvals.
President William Ruto on July 25, 2024, nominated Kanja as the new police IG.
Kanja was initially appointed acting IG following the resignation of Japhet Koome.
Ruto later nominated him for the IG position.
The move by Ruto to nominate Kanja for the police IG position forced him to leave the position to Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli who has since then been the acting IG.
Kanja is now set to succeed Koome and be the fifth police IG since the enactment of the 2010 Constitution.