On the 12th day of July 2024, the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome’s resignation from his national duties was officially accepted by the President. This comes a day after the planned changes to the impending Cabinet reshuffle and weeks of civil unrest in the country following the controversial rejected Finance Bill proposal.
“His Excellency Hon William Samoei Ruto, PhD, CGH, President and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, has on this 12th day of July, 2024, accepted the resignation of Eng. Japheth N. Koome, MGH, as the Inspector General of the National Police Service.”
New appointments in the police force
Following Koome’s resignation, President Ruto has appointed Eliud Langat as the Acting Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service.
James Kamau has also been appointed as the Acting Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service.
Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, Noor Gabow, has been redeployed within the Public Service.
Mr. Arandu is taking over from Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba, who is proceeding on terminal leave pending the end of his tenure of office.
Other changes in the senior ranks of the police service include:
– Mr Ranson Lolmodooni as Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU)
– Gilbert Masengeli as Commandant at the Administration Police Training College (APTC), Embakasi.
– William Yiampoy as Director of Operations, at Police Headquarters
– Mr. Kainga Mathiu to be the Commandant of the National Police Leadership Academy (NPSA), Ngong.
IG Koome’s Career Highlights
- He was nominated as Inspector General of Police in September 2022 after being vetted and approved by both the National and Senate Assembly.
- Koome took over from Hillary Mutyambai who went on a terminal leave.
- Koome was later moved to police headquarters to serve as principal deputy of deputy inspector general of police Edward Mbugua.
- He was a former Nairobi County Police Commander.
- Koome is a career police officer who became Commandant of the National Police Service College, Kiganjo.
- He served as Commanding Police Officer at Central Police in Nairobi and regional commander for Nairobi.
- He is a civil engineer by profession.
The Inspector General’s Office was established following the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. David Mwole Kimaiyo was the first appointee of the Inspector General’s office from 2012 to 2014.
Pressure To Resign
Koome has been under fire from all quarters over the last month for killings, unlawful arrests, and abductions by the police during the protests. So far human rights organizations have documented at least 39 lost their lives under his watch.
Koome’s resignation comes a day after WIPER party leaders held a presser to call for his immediate resignation. The Kalonzo-led presser, on Wednesday, demanded the resignation of Japheth Koome and Nairobi region police Commander, Adamson Bungei, over alleged extrajudicial killings and police brutality witnessed during the recent anti-Finance Bill protests.
WIPER is asking the Director of Public Prosecution, Renson Igonga, to launch a case against Koome and Bungei and implicated officers for the rampant impunity they committed. They also demanded a full public apology from the CS Interior and the Executive for the unfortunate deaths. They said compensation should be made to the families.
The President welcomed Koome’s decision and wished him all the best in his future endeavors.
“His Excellency the President has expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Inspector-General of the National Police Service for the service he has rendered to the nation and has extended his best wishes for success in all his future pursuits,” added State House spokesperson Mohamed.
