Police or goons? IG nominee Kanja vows all officers will wear required uniforms before deployment
Douglas Kanja, the career policeman President William Ruto wants to issue supreme orders to the service, is promising Kenyans sweeping reforms if approved by Parliament.
Mr Kanja, 60, who until his nomination was acting as the Inspector-General of Police, on Thursday gave lofty pledges as he sought to prove his fitness for the big boots left by Japhet Koome at the height of anti-government protests.
Donning a blue suit and a red necktie, the family man who has served in the service for 39 years told MPs that one of his immediate assignments would be slaying the dragon of corruption.
Mr Kanja, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, said he would boost transparency and accountability in policing, by introducing body cams, and name tags.
He has also promised to crack down on police officers harbouring conflict of interest within the service, insisting that they will have to “choose one path”.
“When I was DIG, I realised that a police officer is the owner of the (targeted) local pub, matatus etc. I was hard on it and I had to tell them you must choose one path,” he said.
“You cannot be a police officer yet you are the owner of a matatu that is breaking laws left right and centre. Concentrate on the police force and leave other issues to other people.”
Mr Kanja was questioned on police handling of the recent demonstrations and had a tough time defending the conduct of the police officers who used excessive use of force to suppress protesters.
The nominee said the June 25th demonstrations, during which Parliament came under siege, had its share of challenges as the number of protesters was huge.
“On the part of the police service, we were fully prepared. The number of people who turned up was huge. They blocked Kiambu Road and Globe Roundabout. It was difficult to go out and get water. So we had to first of all clear the areas so that we would be able to get out of town to go and get the water to repress the protesters from advancing towards Parliament,” Mr Kanja said.
The former deputy inspector-general of police also promised to shift to regular training of police officers and empowering the Internal Affairs Unit to probe rights violation by police during anti-government protests and hold all the violators accountable.
“It is true that the Constitution Article 37 has given the people of Kenya the right to protest, picket, demonstrate and hand over petitions to public officers. However, I must say that there is no country that can allow extra judicial killings. It is illegal and should never happen… I will ensure that the service performs its duties within the frameworks of the law to ensure that everyone enjoys their rights,” Mr Kanja told the committee.
Mr Kanja, whose vetting lasted close to four hours, also promised to bring to an end the issue of police officers covering themselves while carrying out enforcement.
“This is a valid concern. I will be the chair of the joint service where we have DCI boss and the two DIGs. Mine is to ensure that whenever we are going for any type of deployment, people wear the necessary uniforms. We will rein in those who are not putting on the correct attires. It is an area that I am going to address. We know the regulations and how they should conduct themselves,” he added.
The nominee also told the MPs that there will be no issues on the promotion of police officers as experienced during Mr Koome’s tenure.
“We do not need to have an issue with the National Police Service Commission. Since as the IG you are a member, you table what you have and then you have a meeting to agree on the promotions,” he said.
Mr Kanja told the committee chaired by Nakuru West MP Gabriel Tongoyo and Baringo Senator William Cheptumo that he is banking on his 39- year experience within the police service to bring Mr Kanja began his career as a recruit police constable in 1985 and was first deployed in the North Rift region.
He later rose through the ranks after being promoted to police corporal, acting inspector of police, inspector of police, chief inspector of police, acting superintendent of police, superintendent of police, senior superintendent of police, senior assistant commissioner of police, commissioner of police, assistant inspector-general, senior assistant Inspector-General.
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