The new Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police is likely to be known by Friday, April 7.

Officials aware of the plans said the National Police Service Commission is rushing the recruitment of the new DIG to ensure continuity in the service following the retirement of Edward Mbugua last month.

Twelve senior police officers were Wednesday, March 29, shortlisted for the position and are scheduled for interviews on April 4 at the Kenya School of Government.

Some 30 police officers applied for the job. The commission will meet and finish the interviews on Tuesday before voting on the top three candidates.

The names will be sent to President William Ruto, who will appoint one as the new DIG. 

Among those shortlisted include National Police Service director of Internal Affairs Unit David Birech, Eastern regional police commander Rono Bunei, former Nyanza regional police commander Vincent Makokha and director of personnel, Kenya Police Jacinta Muthoni, Kenya Airports Police Unit commandant Maurice Kipkoech, General Service Unit commandant Douglas Kanja and director of personnel IG’s office, Rosemary Kuraru.

Others are the acting  DIG Abdalla Komesha, director of Gender Judy Jebet, director of Reforms KPS Nyale Munga, Rift Valley regional police commander Tom Odera and commandant of Kenya Police College, Kiganjo, Bruno Shioso.

The commission had limited the applications to Kenyans holding a bachelor's degree, who must have served in the police service for at least 15 years and be of rank of assistant IG.

The holder of the office is influential as he or she controls almost 70,000 personnel of the more than 100,000 officers under the NPS.

The other personnel are in Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The office holder is in charge of all eight regional police commanders, 47 county commanders, formation commanders, subcounty commanders, Officer Commanding Station and all uniformed officers.

He/she also controls the GSU, the Traffic department and Kenya Police College in Kiganjo.

The new officer holder will come to office when the service is facing different forms of crisis. The morale of many officers is low due to poor pay and living conditions, among others. 

A task force is collecting views on how police welfare will be improved but many fear the recommendations may not be implemented.

The first DIG under the 2010 Constitution was Grace Kaindi in 2012 then followed by Joel Kitili and Mbugua.

Article 245 of the Constitution provides for two positions of IG to head KPS and APS.

The President should appoint each deputy IG with the recommendation of NPSC

The officer holder should be subject to the direction, command and control of the IG—be responsible for the effective and efficient day-to-day administration and operations of the KPS.

He should also implement policies and directions of the NPS in relation to the KPS, prepare the budget, planning and provision of support for the service.

He should also establish and maintain police stations, outposts, units or unit bases in the counties and determine the boundaries of the police stations, outposts or unit bases.

Moreover, he should establish a facility in each police station for receiving, recording and reporting of complaints from members of the public.

The DIG should manage, monitor and evaluate KPS, undertake the supervision of the service, co-ordinate training in KPS and provide internal oversight of the service.

Other duties are to establish and maintain a relationship between the KPS and the community and improve transparency and accountability in the KPS.

He should co-operate and engage in joint security operations with the deputy IG in charge of the APS, other government departments or other security organs to ensure the safety and security of the public.

He should implement the decisions of the IG, issue general, special, routine and standing orders in respect of the KPS and perform such other duties as the IG may assign, or as the NPS Act or by any other written law may prescribe.