Naema Celestine 
| Tomas Mauko |
Eight shortlisted candidates for the positions of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for both the Kenya Police Service (KPS) and the Administration Police Service (APS) appeared before the National Police Service Commission for interviews on Monday.
These positions became vacant following the resignation of former Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, on July 12. President William Ruto subsequently appointed the then KPS DIG, Douglas Kanja, as acting Inspector General. Additionally, Ruto replaced Noor Gabow with James Kamau as acting DIG APS and named Eliud Lagat, Commandant of the General Service Unit, as acting DIG KPS.
To be considered for the DIG positions, candidates were required to hold the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police or higher. The candidates interviewed for the Kenya Police DIG position were Coast Region Police Commander George Sedah, Eliud Lagat, Tom Odero, and Vincent Makokha. For the Administration Police DIG position, the candidates were Gilbert Masengeli, Margaret Karanja, James Kamau, and Masood Mwinyi.
The interviews were conducted by a panel led by Eliud Kinuthia, and included Douglas Kanja, Director of Criminal Investigation Mohamed Amin, Commissioners Edwin Cheluget, John Ole Moyaki, Lilian Kiamba, and National Police Service accounting officer Bernice Sialaal.
The commission is expected to announce the top candidates by Friday this week. Kinuthia emphasized the legal mandate requiring his office to submit a report to the appointing authority within 14 days, recommending suitable candidates for substantive appointment to the DIG positions.
“The office is currently under a caretaker, and the law mandates that once changes are declared in that office, the appointing authority must act promptly,” Kinuthia stated. “The commission is undertaking a competitive recruitment process, guided by the law, specifically Section 14 of the National Police Service Act and Article 32, which stipulate that any appointment or promotion must be done competitively.”
Kinuthia added that the interviewees underwent a structured engagement process to assess their preparedness and readiness to perform the duties of the DIG role.
The chairman described the interviews for the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) positions as an “internal competition” among current police staff.
“No one from outside the police service is eligible for this position. We are evaluating our own staff, those we know and have seen perform well,” he explained.
He added that only serving police officers who have reached the rank of Assistant Inspector General or higher can apply.
“We’re looking for well-rounded individuals—good leaders, strong commanders, who can confidently lead lower-ranking officers and drive change and reforms within the National Police Service,” the chairman said.
The new DIGs will be expected to boost officer morale by providing strong leadership and following police Standing Orders.
After the interviews, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) will recommend the best candidates to President Ruto for appointment.
For the first time, the commission will interview female officers, reflecting the push for gender balance in public offices.
“We’ve tried to include as many women as possible. Both men and women applied, and all will have a fair chance before this panel,” said the chairman, Kinuthia.
The commission has also created a portal where the public can post questions about any officer being interviewed.
“We recognize the important role police officers play in maintaining law and order and protecting life and property,” Kinuthia noted.
He urged the public to support the police in their duties.
“Recently, we’ve seen many good citizens helping police officers in their work, even protecting them from harm. This is commendable,” he said.
In response to complaints about police brutality during recent Gen Z protests, Kinuthia urged security officers to exercise restraint.
“Do not let anger affect your professionalism. Treat citizens with care, especially during crowd control and public order events,” he advised.
He committed to ensuring the welfare of officers and their families while expecting them to perform their duties professionally.
Kenya Police Service (KPS) DIG Candidates:
- George Sedah (Coast Region Police Commander)
- Eliud Lagat (Commandant General Service Unit)
- Tom Odero
- Vincent Makokha
Administration Police Service (APS) DIG Candidates:
- Gilbert Masengeli
- Margaret Karanja
- James Kamau
- Masood Mwinyi
