Senior officers set for DCI director interviews today
Ten senior police officers will today be interviewed for the position of the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The list comprises senior seasoned detectives and forensic experts who have risen through the ranks and served the nation in various capacities in the security sector.
DCI’s position fell vacant following the resignation of George Kinoti on September 27. After his resignation, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) advertised for the position
A total of 253 officers applied for the position after which the Commission shortlisted 10 applicants.
Among those to be interviewed is Nicholas Ireri Kamwende, the former Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) and Nairobi Region DCI boss. Kamwende is currently the Director of Planning at DCI headquarters. He has also served as the Director of Planning at the same headquarter and also had stints at the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Banking Fraud Unit.
The other interviewee is Eliud Lagat, the current Director of Reforms at DCI headquarters. Lagat is an explosives and post blasts expert who headed the forensic Bomb Disposal Unit, prior to his current posting. He has also trained at the National Defence College of Kenya.
Dr Mwangi Wanderi, the current head of DCI Railways command has also made it to the final list. Wanderi who is a distinguished scholar was a long serving Director of Personnel at DCI headquarters. He has previously served in the Flying Squad.
Wanderi holds a Master’s degree in Leadership and Security management and a PhD in International Relations majored on intelligence gathering and sharing in combatting transnational terrorism. He joined the police service in 1993.
He has also served in various capacities as a DCIO in Nandi, Busia and Marsabit counties. He also headed several detachments of the defunct Flying Squad in Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru counties. In 2005 Wanderi, was part of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone.
Another seasoned detective to be interviewed is Munga Nyale. Nyale is currently the Principal Assistant to the Inspector General at the National Police Service (NPS) headquarters. He has also headed both the Flying Squad and the ATPU and been the Central DCI boss.
Senior officers
In March last year, Nyale was among the 50 senior police officers of the ranks between Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and Assistant Inspector General (AIG) who were promoted to the next ranks. Nyale, then an AIG and the Principal Assistant to the IG was promoted to the rank of Senior AIG (SAIG)
In November 2019, when the NPSC transferred five senior police officers including the then Kenya Police College Commandant King’ori Mwangi and former GSU boss William Sayia to Public Service Commission for redeployment, Nyale was one of the officers who was to be transferred from the service alongside Mwei, who was Administration Police DIG Noor Gabow’s deputy, Munga Nyale, former head of Criminal Records Patrick Ndunda, Maalim Abubakar (Criminal Intelligence Unit), Fred Maingi (director personnel) and Robert Kitur of the Kenya Police Reserve.
The other is the seasoned detective, Mohammed Amin Ibrahim, the current head of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) the body tasked with oversighting the police.
He has headed the Investigations Bureau (IB) at the DCI headquarters and served he interviews slated for Tuesday. Amin has served in various capacities including heading the then CID Investigations Bureau, Banking Fraud Investigations Unit among other senior management positions. Amin, a SAIG, was promoted to the rank in March last year by the NPSC.
The Coast Regional DCI boss Walumoli Barasa is another officer to be interviewed today. He has previously served at the elite Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) and as the Central Region DCI boss.
The former Head of Legal at the DCI headquarters Michael Wiso will also be interviewed today alongside David Birech, the head of Police Reforms, Paul Ndambuki, who has previously served at Interpol Headquarters in France and at the DCI Academy. The only female officer to be interviewed for the position is Esther Seroney, the Bomet County police commander.
