President William Ruto has challenged the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to be equal to his tasks of enforcing the rule of law in a just and equitable manner.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, Ruto reminded Kanja that his cardinal duty was to ensure all Kenyan citizens respect the law, irrespective of their status.
“Mr. Kanja, as you start work, you have a responsibility to protect the police service as an institution that should be independent, and the law should be applied equitably to all citizens,” emphasized the President.
Kanja’s appointment came after Japeth Koome resigned from office on July 12. He exited a day after
President Ruto declared the entire Cabinet, minus Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, vacant in the wake of protests led by members of Gen Z against the government.
Kanja had initially taken over as acting IG before being nominated to the permanent position.
The acting IG during that period was the then Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli. Masengeli’s tenure in office was however characterized by fights in the courts of law.
He was found guilty and sentenced to six months imprisonment for contempt of court after he failed to show up in court following several summonses over the disappearance of three people.
The case also involved police officers, something that compelled Masengeli to agree to appear in court as he appealed the sentence.
Using these developments as examples, Ruto challenged Kanja to ensure that the National Police Service did not become a victim of external influence.
“You have the responsibility to shield the service from manipulation, intimidation, or blackmail,” he said.
The President underscored that no one was above the law. “All of us are equal before the law,” he said, insisting that adherence to the rule of law lays the bedrock of Kenya’s democracy.
“We must abide by and adhere to the rule of law for the stability of our nation. We will continue supporting our security agencies in securing and ensuring safety for all Kenyans,” Ruto said.
Kanja, who has led the General Service Unit Commandant since 2018, carries a great deal of experience.
