Kilifi county police commander Fatuma Hadi has been promoted and moved to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to head the counter-violent extremism unit.
The unit was initially based in the office of the Inspector General of Police but later moved to the DCI.
The unit has new personnel to engage with other agencies in countering extremism. Hadi was replaced by former Kabete subcounty commander Joseph Ongaya.
Security agencies use the National Strategy to Counter Violent Extremism in their operations.
Former Nakuru county police commander Samuel Ndanyi was promoted to Central region commander.
Ndanyi replaced Lydia Ligami, who was recalled to police headquarters, which termed the changes normal and aimed at enhancing operations.
Meanwhile, close to 1,000 police officers from the larger eastern region are the latest to be transfered from their stations in efforts to enhance strength and balance in the National Police Service.
This is according to a memo sent to the county police commanders in Machakos, Marsabit, Makueni, Meru, Kitui, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Kilifi counties.
The memo dated November 14 instructs the police heads to release 974 officers from their current stations and allow them to report to their new stations by November 27.
“Ensure that their personal files are forwarded to their new commands without delay,” Charles Naibei, the Commander of Eastern Region orders in the memo approved by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
The majority of the affected officers are in the rank of constables, followed by corporals and a few senior sergeants.
The region has been facing a number of security challenges in particular Isiolo and Marsabit counties. Cattle rustlers have in the past weeks been wreaking havoc in the areas, which left at least five people dead and dozens of animals stolen.
Eight constables have been moved from Marsabit police station to Folore. Nine of their colleagues will be reporting to Dukana police station, five move to Sabarei, four to Maikona and two to Illeleret police station within the same county.
In Makueni county, 27 officers have been transferred from Kithumani, Mbooni,Kalawani, Kithungo,Makueni Kivali and Kona stations to other stations within the county. In Isiolo over 24 constables have been affected, over 30 from Machakos and at least 26 in Meru.
The bulk of the
affected officers are from Kitui police station. The region has been facing
security challenges, which range from cattle rustling to interclan fighting
