Ruto’s IG nominee set to face vetting panel today
Lawmakers will today vet Japeth Koome who was nominated to the position of Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS).
The move comes after President William Ruto forwarded his name to Parliament for approval.
The nominee will face both the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations and National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs.
The chairpersons of the two committees will co-chair the joint sittings with the quorum being the respective quorums of each of the committees.
Relevant testimonials
Former Acting National Assembly Clerk Serah Kioko and her counterpart in the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye asked the nominee to bring originals of his identity card, academic and professional certificates and other relevant testimonials.
In addition, the nominee is also expected to obtain letters/ certificates of clearance / compliance from the Ethics and Anti Corruption (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and any of the credit reference bureau.
“In accordance with the provisions of article 118 of the constitution and section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval act) 2011, the general public is hereby notified that the National Assembly departmental committee on Administration and Internal Affair and Senate standing committee on National Security, defense and Foreign relations shall hold an approval hearing for the said nominee (Japeth Koome Nchebere) on Tuesday November 8, 2022 in the Mini chamber first floor, county hall , parliament buildings at 10am,” reads a notification from the duo.
Members of the public had until last Thursday to submit memoranda on Koome.
“In accordance with section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary approval) Act 2011, the committees now invite interested members of the public to submit any representations by written statements on oath (affidavits) with supporting evidence, on the suitability of the nominee for appointment to office. The representation must be forwarded to the clerk of the National Assembly or the clerk of the senate to be received on or before November 3, 2022 at 5pm,” said Kioko.
The nominee, a former Nairobi county police commander, is the current Commandant of the National Police Service College, Kiganjo.
Sick leave
He previously served at the police headquarters (2018), where he was the principal deputy to the Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police, Edward Mbugua.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow has been the acting IG after Former IG Hilary Mutyambai picked him to perform his duties. He made the announcement on August 26, after revealing that he would be away on sick leave.
Mutyambai collapsed in his Karen home on Thursday night, August 25 and he was immediately taken to a high-end private hospital for treatment.
National Police Service Act, 2011, provides that after the announcement of the vacancy, the Commission shall review the applications, hold public interviews, and shortlist at least three people who are qualified for the advertised post, and gazette the candidates within seven days.
The Commission shall then forward the shortlisted names to the Head of State for nomination to the position of the IG within seven days of the date of shortlisting of qualified applicants.
“The President shall, within seven days of receipt of the names forwarded under subsection (5), by notice in the Gazette, nominate a person for appointment as Inspector-General from among the shortlisted names and submit the name of the nominee to Parliament for approval,” Section 12(5) of the National Police Service Act states.
