The president appoints the Inspector General of Police with the vetting and approval of Parliament. This is according to article 245 section 2 of the Kenyan constitution. Section 6 of the same article also says that the Inspector General of Police shall only be elected for a single four-year term and is not legible for reappointment.
Japhet Koome was nominated for the position by the sitting president Dr William Samoei Ruto. And this came as a surprise to Kenyans as the man has kept his profile from the public eye. And his name is similar to the Chief of Justice Martha Koome Kenyans had speculations they might be related by they are not. On 8th November 2022 parliament approved his appointment and he is now the Inspector General of Police.
Prior to his approval to be the IGP Koome is expected to exercise independent command over the National Police Service. And also perform any other functions prescribed by national legislation.
But who is this Man the IGP Japhet Nchebere Koome and what are his roles for Kenyans?
Early life
Japhet Nchebere Koome’s date of birth is not clearly indicated. Reports and data provided show that he was born between 1979 and 1983 in Nairobi county. And is now estimated to be around 39 to 43 years. He is a Kenyan citizen.
Marriage and children
The IGP is married. Since he is a secretive person Koome has decided to keep the details of his wife and children from the public eye. He only commented that he loves children.
Education
Details of his education level have never been disclosed. But the Inspector General of police graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. But his dream was to be a police officer.
Career
Koome was a Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police. During his appointment and vetting process to be an Inspector General koome was the current Commandant of the National Police Service College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County. A position took over from King’ori Mwangi.
He is a qualified Civil Engineer.
He previously served as the Nairobi Regional Commander of Police.
He also served as the Sub-County Police Commander of Central Police Station in Nairobi.
After his stint as Nairobi regional police boss, Koome was posted to the Police Headquarters, where he served as the principal deputy of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Edward Mbugua.
Japhet Koome’s role as Inspector General of police
-Implement policy decisions.
-Audit of police operations and functioning.
-Coordinate all police operations.
-Advise the Government on policing matters and services.
-Prepare budgetary estimates and develop a policing plan before the end of each financial year, setting out the priorities and objectives of the service and the justification. Here he deals with the maintenance of police stations, police posts, outposts, and units and also determines their boundaries.
-The IGD is responsible for distributing and deploying officers in the service and recommends to the National Police Service Commission and County policing Authorities. He also organizes national police service at the national level into various formations and units.
-Ensure the establishment of, management and maintenance of training institutions, centres or places for training officers joining the service and other officers.
-To provide guidelines on community policing and ensure cooperation between the Service and the communities it serves in combating crime;
-Provide the command structure and system of the Service taking into consideration the recommendation of the Service Board (see Section 21 of the National Police Service Act) for the efficient administ
-With reference to the Constitution and the National Police Service Act. or any written law. The IGP has to cooperate with and implement the decisions of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority. Which includes compensation to victims of police misconduct;
-Designate any police station, post, outpost, unit or unit base as a place of custody.
Designate from among the county commanders in each county the most Senior Officer from either the Kenya Police Service or the Administration Police Service, who should coordinate in consultation with the two Deputy Inspector-Generals, the operational command and control of the county, and the officer so designated should, with respect to coordination, execute operational command and control in a manner that respects the command structure set out in Article 245(3) of the Constitution.
-Promote cooperation with international police agencies.
-Establish and devolve the services of the Internal Affairs Units that are able and equipped to conduct investigations into police misconduct in a fair and effective manner and report directly to the Inspector-General.
-Monitor the implementation of policy, operations and directions of the National Police Service.
-Issue and document the National Police Service Standing Orders.
-Cooperate with other public or private bodies to provide reliable police statistics on crime rates, detection rate, public confidence in the police, number of complaints against the police, as well as personnel statistics;
-Act on the recommendations of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, including compensation to victims of police misconduct; and perform any other legal and lawful act on behalf of the National police service.
His current networth
During his vetting for the position of Inspector general of police, he was made to disclose his net worth. He told parliament and the vetting committee that he is worth sh 89 million.
Koome stated that his wealth contribution is from proceeds from his dairy farming activities that give him a profit of sh9m annually.
He also added that ‘I have a share capital in the Police Sacco, vehicles, two tractors for farming, 37 acres of land in my rural home, two plots within the local shopping centre, my land in Nairobi where I have lived for 22 years, and two plots in Kitengela.
Top 5 reasons for an Inspector General of police to lose his seat
The Inspector-General Of police may also be removed from office. And that will be done with the sitting president because of the below reasons.
- Serious violation of this Constitution or any other law, including a contravention of Chapter Six;
2. Gross misconduct whether in the performance of the office holder’s functions or otherwise;
3. Physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of office;
4. Showing incompetence at his work
5. Evidence of bankruptcy.