• Nyale was until his appointment the director of reforms at police headquarters.
• In additional changes, the IG moved five Sub County police commanders in Nairobi.
Image: Courtesy
The former head of Anti Terror Police Unit Gideon Nyale Munga is the new director of operations at the Kenya Police headquarters, Nairobi.
Nyale was until his appointment the director of reforms at police headquarters.
He swapped positions with Boniface Maingi in the changes announced by Inspector General of police Japhet Koome on Saturday, April 1.
The changes come amid concerns the past mass protests called by Azimio La Umoja leaders were not well handled.
In additional changes, the IG moved five Sub County police commanders in Nairobi.
The affected Sub County commanders who are known as OCPDs include that of Kilimani, Embakasi, Njiru, Central, and Dagoretti, officials aware of the changes said.
A number of Officers Commanding Station were also affected in the movements occasioned by the protests.
Nyale is a seasoned officer and had served as Principal Assistant to immediate former IG Hilary Mutyambai and head of planning at DCI headquarters.
He is among those shortlisted for interview on Tuesday, April 4 for the position of Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police.
The changes came after the IG held a meeting with some of his commanders on April 1, at his office, officials aware said.
The new commanders were ordered to report to their new stations by Sunday afternoon ahead of Monday's planned protests.
President William Ruto had Friday evening met the police bosses at State House to discuss the security situation in the country.
The team led by Koome is said to have been ordered to make changes in the manner in which they handle the protesters and limit using lethal force.
Sources said they were informed there was a lack of coordination in containing the past protests.
They said the teams now plan to trail the leaders of the protests and “limit their movements” as part of efforts to control the protests.
There will be more police deployments on major routes to the city center and specific informal settlements to control movements. This idea was, however, opposed by some officers who felt it is counterproductive.
At least ten people have been killed in the past three protests and dozens injured as police clashed with the protesters.
Among those who died was a six-month-old baby boy who suffocated after a teargas canister exploded in their house in Kibera slums last Thursday. Two others were killed in the same Kibera, Embakasi, and Kisumu.
The police declared the protests illegal and banned them.
The opposition is among others protesting the high cost of living.
Police have been disrupting their protests using water canons and teargas canisters leaving a trail of destruction, which has taken a toll on Ruto's administration.
The police are facing condemnation from among others, civil society groups.
And to hide their actions, the police are now being told not to reveal those who encounter protesters.
“Officers' names should not be mentioned after serious encounters with not only riotous crowds but also criminals, to prevent it from being used against us,” read part of a communiqué to the police commanders.
There are concerns that police authorities are not reporting the actual events on the ground.
For instance, when hired goons raided a farm owned by the former First Family the Kenyatta's in Ruiru, police failed to report on the same as it is required.
Some insiders see this as illegality and may be used against them in the future. This is because no arrest has been made so far.