Aden Duale, the MP for Garissa Township, has defended President William Ruto’s decision to nominate Japheth Koome for the position of Inspector General of Police.
Duale insisted in a statement on Thursday that the President followed the law.
“From a reading of Article 245 of the Constitution as read with sections 9 and 12 of the Act, the nomination of the IG was done in accordance with the law,” he said in a tweet.
According to Article 245(2)(a) of the Constitution, the Inspector General is appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament.
This is also reflected in Section 9 of the National Police Service Act of 2011.
“Section 12 of the Act provides for the procedure of appointment and provides in subsection (2) that “within fourteen” days of occurrence of a vacancy the President shall nominate the IG and submit the name to Parliament for approval.”
Duale, the Cabinet Secretary nominee for the Defence docket, was responding to reports that a petitioner had filed a court petition to have Koome’s nomination as Inspector General revoked.
The petitioner claimed that Ruto’s appointment was invalid.
President Ruto announced changes to the National Police Service leadership on Tuesday, beginning with the nomination of Koome.
The nomination followed Hillary Mutyambai’s decision to take a medical leave of absence.
George Kinoti, Director of Criminal Investigations, also resigned.
