Former director of personnel at police headquarters Charlton Murithi is dead.
Murithi died on Friday morning at the Kenyatta National Hospital where he had been admitted over cancer related complications.
He was the director of Kenya National Focal Point on Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, which is under the Office of the President but being run by the police.
Murithi was a senior assistant inspector general of police, a rank below the deputy inspector general of police.
He also served as the director of Internal Affairs Unit, commandant of traffic operations and as a provincial police officer in Northeastern.
Police headquarters confirmed his demise and said a comprehensive statement would be issued later.
Murithi who had been battling cancer had been flown to South Africa for therapy, three months ago.
He was flown back to Kenya and admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital after an improvement.
A family member said he passed on at about 3am on Friday.
Police visited the facility and moved the body to the local mortuary.
A cross section of police officers mourned him as a dedicated, professional and best officer who will be missed by many.
During his tenure as the director of personnel, many say he streamlined the area and ensured professionalism reigned in the service.
“He meant well for the service in ensuring the best officers served where they deserve. We mourn him,” an officer who was close to him said.
When he was moved to the traffic section, he managed to contain much of the menace usually associated in the public transport.
He was in 2015 tasked to investigate TV evangelist James Ng’ang’a over the death of a woman in a road accident in Limuru.
This followed protests that the earlier team did not handle the probe professionally amid allegations of a cover-up, that involved falsifying documents and tampering with evidence.
At AIU, officials say he managed to professionalise operations and put in place structures that are helping the unit.
A condolence book was opened at police headquarters for those wishing to pay their respects to Murithi.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
