The National Police Service Commission has gone on a retreat ahead of planned interviews to seek the new head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Officials said the commission went to a Naivasha hotel.
They plan to make public the shortlisted candidates on Saturday, October 8, for the interviews scheduled for Tuesday, October 11.
It will then send three names to the President on Thursday for appointment to succeed George Kinoti who left Mazingira Complex on September 30.
At least 210 applications had been received by October 6, which was the deadline for applications.
The commission had on September 30, named deputy DCI Hamisi Massa to act as DCI for 14 days.
The candidates were required to have a degree, 10 years of experience and proven knowledge of criminal investigations.
The position fell vacant following the resignation of Kinoti in an announcement made by President William Ruto on September 27.
He served the country for 30 years.
Kinoti joined the Kenya Police in 1992 as a recruit constable and rose through the ranks to become the country’s top detective.
Among those seeking to succeed him include the principal assistant to the Inspector General of police Munga Nyale, director of the Internal Affairs Unit Mohamed Amin, acting DCI Hamisi Massa, director of reforms at the DCI Eliud Langat and head of DCI Railways Wanderi Mwangi.
Others are the head of investigations at DCI John Gachomo, the head of the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit Carrey Nyawinda, director of planning at DCI Nicholas Kamwende and director of reforms at police David Birech.
Other police officers and lawyers are also said to have applied for the position.
The DCI is one the most powerful units in the National Police Service.
The main functions of the DCI include collection and provision of criminal intelligence, investigations on serious crimes including homicides, narcotics, money laundering and economic crimes, maintaining of law and order and detection and prevention of crime.
They also apprehend offenders, maintain criminal records, coordinate country Interpol Affairs, and carry out investigations of matters that may be referred to it by the Independent Police Oversight Authority.
The DCI controls its budget for over 7,000 personnel.
The personnel are currently deployed to various government offices to conduct their mandate.
The main units under DCI include Anti-Terror Police Unit, Anti-Narcotics Unit, Interpol regional bureau, DCI Academy, Bomb Disposal Unit and Banking Fraud among others.
The law says the Commission shall consider the applications, conduct public interviews and shortlist at least three persons qualified for the positions advertised.
“The names of the shortlisted persons under subsection (3) shall be published in the Gazette. The Commission shall, within seven days from the date of publication of names under subsection (4), forward the shortlisted names to the President,” the National Police Service Act states.
The President shall then within seven days of receipt of the names forwarded under subsection (5), by notice in the Gazette appoint a person as the Director of Criminal Investigations.
Ahead of the retreat, the Commission Thursday approved the transfer of services for Kinoti to the Public Service Commission.
This is on condition that Kinoti will remain with remuneration and privileges personal to himself, with effect from September 27 until attainment of mandatory retirement age.
PSC will now redeploy him to any position in the government.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
