The new Director General at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) could be known by Friday.
This is after the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Tuesday conducted interviews and vetting on 10 candidates who had been shortlisted to fill the vacant position left by former DCI George Kinoti.
It is also because of the 14 days that the acting DCI Hamisi Massa was given to be in office lapses then. Massa was named the acting DCI on September 30 after the exit of Kinoti.
The police employer started interviewing the ten candidates who had been shortlisted in a marathon event at the Kenya School of Government and retreated for analysis of their performance and awarding before naming the top three winners.
They were expected to finish the tabulation of the performance and later submit a report to the president for appointment.
Commission chairman Eliud Kinuthia said the ten were suitable for the interviews and vetting.
“We will give a report by or before Friday which is the 14th day of the lapse of the period given,” said Kinuthia.
He said they had received various reports from Kenyans on the candidates and were considered in the vetting.
The sessions were done behind closed doors because of security reasons, said Kinuthia.
“We are dealing with security issues and this will remain closed doors. We will make the report public later,” he said.
Those interviewed included the director of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) Mohamed Amin, the Coast head of DCI Bernard Barasa, director of reforms at the DCI Eliud Lagat, the principal assistant to the Inspector General of police Munga Nyale and Bomet County police commander Esther Seroney.
Others shortlisted include the director of reforms at police headquarters David Birech, head of investigations at insurance fraud Michael Jonyo Wiso, director of planning at DCI Nicholas Kamwende, Paul Ndambuki formerly regional Coast police commander and head of DCI Railways Dr Wanderi Mwangi.
The candidates are all seasoned officers who have risen through the ranks to their current positions.
After the interviews, the commission will then send three names to the president on Thursday for appointment as the DCI.
The candidates were questioned on their wealth, experience, why they want to be the DCI and what they have to offer.
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.
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 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.
And ahead of the retreat, the Commission approved the transfer of services for Kinoti to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
This is on condition that Kinoti will remain with remuneration and privileges personal to himself, with effect from September 27, 2022, until attainment of mandatory retirement age.