DCI makes changes in its ranks
Recently created Special Services Unit (SSU) at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has now been upgraded to a full-fledged department.
This was among the changes effected by the DCI boss George Kinoti on Monday.
The new changes saw the redeployment of John Gachomo, formerly the head of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) to lead the powerful Investigations Bureau at the DCI headquarters.
He replaces long serving John Kariuki who has proceeded on retirement.
In the changes, Kinoti shuffled top sleuths in the country and named new commanders to boost operations ahead of the 2022 polls.
Officers retirement
Sources intimated that the changes were partly prompted by retirement of some senior officers within the unit.
The SSU, which replaced Flying Squad disbanded by Kinoti in December 2019, is to be headed by Pius Gitari.
The unit has been responsible for the crackdown of armed hardcore criminals, motor vehicle thefts and kidnapping across the country.
The unit comprising about 20 specially trained officers, with its headquarters in Nairobi, is an intelligence driven operation entity deployed to areas with critical crime emergencies across the country.
Kinoti termed the changes as normal and meant to improve efficiency in operation.
The new Nairobi Regional Criminal Investigations Officer (RCIO) is Paul Wachira who moved from Rift Valley.
Wachira was replaced in Rift Valley by Isaac Meeme who has been the CCIO Kajiado.
Nairobi RCIO Bernard Nyakwaka was moved to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and named the head of the DCI Kenya Airports Police Unit to replace Joseph Mugwanja who was transferred to DCI headquarters and named the director of planning.
At the ATPU, Gachomo has been replaced by Mombasa head of ATPU Martin Otieno.
At the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) the new head will be Carrey Nyawinda.
Nyawinda replaced Abdallah Komesha who was moved to the Regional Counter Terrorism Center of Excellence.
Kilimani head of DCI Fatuma Hadi was sent to Rwanda for a senior officers’ training course and replaced by Stephene ole Tanki while Peter Kiboro was named the new DCIO for Gigiri in Nairobi and Laikipia head of DCI Francis Wanjau was moved to Kisumu in the same capacity.
Bernard Maina Gicheru was confirmed as the director of operations at DCI, Eliud Lagat director of reforms while Kisii County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Adan Guyo was moved to Nyandarua in the same capacity and Kitui’s Samuel Kobina to DCI academy as the deputy director.
