The Litany Of DCI Blunders

Is EX-DCI boss George Kinoti minced meat, or will the political pressure mounting on him dissipate?

But first the chronology of events. Kinoti was retired by President William Ruto upon his assumption of office.

The saga of murdered, missing Indian technos resurfaces and SSU Unit of the police is fingered for the alleged murder. 

Kinoti is thrust into the limelight over the disappearance and pressure begins to on culpability.

DCI officers who charged DP Rigathi Gachagua with Sh.1.2Billion offences claim they were ordered by Kinoti to do so.

President Ruto meets the Police Oversight Authority(IPOA) over extra-judicial assassinations and demands answers

So why has the position of the elite Directorate of Criminal Investigations department elicited so much heat? How did his predecessors fair?

The litany of  DCI blunders 

Muhoro Ndegwa  

2010 to 2018 

Ndegwa was redeployed to the foreign service in 2018, after overseeing the 2017 elections. 

He was under pressure for the killing of Baby Pendo in Kisumu. He had also been thrust into the limelight over the handling of sporadic violence in Kisumu in 2017.  

He was also in charge when Chris Msando, the former IEBC IT director and his girlfriend Carol Nkubu were murdered.

Simon Gatiba Karanja

2006 to 2010

Arguably the most colourless detective Kenya has ever produced. Was in charge during the deadly 2007 and 2008 post-election violence? 

Karanja died in his sleep at his Juja farm after complaining of chest pains.

Joseph Kamau 

2004 to 2006

Kamau was the detective under whose reign Standard Newspapers was raided. 

It was during his reign that Artur Margaryan and Artur Sangasyan, suspected foreign drug barons controlled the CID. 

The two foreigners were recruited into the Kenya Police by Kamau, promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police within an hour of their being hired and given superior Police communication gadgets. 

Kamau had served as the Director of the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit(BFID) and was among the best-trained sleuths the Kenya. He bungled it, but still retired in dignity.

Daniel Ndungu

2003 to 2004

The former KACC Director served for 4 years. He was the detective who oversaw the transition from President Moi to Kibaki. 

The born-again crime bursar left without a scandal.

Noah Arap Too 

1984 to 1999

Arap Too was the longest-serving ever CID Director. He was indicted for the murder of Robert Ouko, Julie Ward and the deadly political clashes of 1992 and1997. 

He masterminded the investigation and detention of Koigi Wa Wamwere,  Raila Odinga, and Kenneth Matiba among many others. 

He was accused of suppressing descent against Moi. But he ruthlessly dealt with bank robbers…

Ignatious Nderi

1974 to 1984

Ignatious was a Jomo Kenyatta and Kiambu Mafia loyalist. When Moi took over in 1978, he was a marked man. 

His waterloo came when the 1982 attempted coup was executed. The Kalenjin and Rift Valley Mafia used this to bump off the remaining Jomo allies from government. 

He was accused of masterminding and covering up the murder of JM Kariuki in 1975.