On Friday, July 12th, President William Ruto announced he accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
Stepping up as the new acting head of the police service, according to Ruto’s statement, is Douglas Kanja, an NPS officer who has had years of experience and leadership that have positioned him for the role.
However, Kanja’s appointment is pending parliamentary approval. Here’s a quick look at Douglas Kanja’s distinguished career in the National Police Service.
Before being appointed head of police, Douglas Kanja served as Deputy Inspector General, working alongside the former IG Japhet Koome to oversee police operations nationwide.
Inspector General Of Police Japhet Koome resigns, deputy takes over
Douglas Kanja previously served as a Commissioner at the National Police Service Commission, where he was involved in policy-making and overseeing the administration of the police service.
He has also served as commandant of the General Service Unit since 2018. Other capacities he worked in are such as the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) where he is said to have improved crime detection and prevention.
Kanja also served as Commandant of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), and the Director of Operations at the National Police Service (NPS).
He brings with him a bank of knowledge and experience in dealing with challenges faced by the police force from various regions across Kenya.
Some of his most notable assignments include Nairobi where he tackled urban crime and security, in the coastal region where he addressed maritime crime, in the eastern region where he focused on rural policing and community engagement and in the Rift Valley where he’s managed security during political unrest.
Due to these acts of service to Kenya, he has been presented with numerous awards and titles including Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), an esteemed honour in Kenya.