At least 10 Officers Commanding Police Division (OCPDs) in Nairobi have been moved in changes announced by police headquarters.
The commanders, who are now referred to as Sub-County Police Commanders, were transferred in new changes being effected to suit the operations of a new trend.
Dagoretti sub-county commander Issa Mohamed was moved to Machakos and promoted to be the county commander.
Mohamed will replace Mr Karanja Muiruri, who was moved to Nyanza on promotion and named the regional commander.
Another former Dagorreti police commander George Seda was in September promoted and posted to Mandera as the county commander.
The new Dagorreti police boss will be Mr Francis Wahome while Gigiri’s Richard Muguai was moved to police headquarters, Vigilance House and named the deputy head of Chief Transport Officer.
Kisauni police boss Julius Kiragu was moved to Gigiri in the same capacity to replace Muguai.
Kilimani Division also got a new police commander less than a month after another officer was posted there.
Vitalis Otieno was named the new sub-county commander for Kilimani to replace James Barasa, who had just reported there last month.
Kayole Division police boss Isaac Thuranira was moved to Kirinyaga and replaced by Philip Wambugu. Thuranira was posted to Kayole two months ago.
Officials said much attention is being put in the city ahead of campaigns that may emerge soon.
Since he was named the Nairobi police boss, Mr Rashid Yakub has moved dozens of commanders including the Officer Commanding Stations (OCSs) in changes he said were aimed at boosting operations.
The most affected one was Kilimani where almost all officers were moved in September.
He also pushed all officers in the city to start wearing the new Persian blue uniform adopted by the service two years ago amid protests there was shortage of the same.
But he insisted on the new uniforms and told those without them to stay away from work.
There have been complaints from some officers on the constant and regular movements saying this affects their work and families.
Some of the officers have also questioned why the changes only targeted their senior colleagues posted to particular stations like Kayole, Kilimani and Gigiri where those posted there hardly last three months, while a certain female officer has remained at Starehe police division for the last 15 years.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said movements in the service are informed by various factors.
“The National Police Service (NPS) strictly removes officers who have served in operation areas after three to four years. A few may take slightly longer based on their professionalism like drivers and signalers,” he said on Tuesday.
The National Police Service Commission has developed criteria to be used in transfers and promotions in the service.
