By Bonface Mulyungi
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi has been named the new Traffic Commandant.
Mwanthi replaced Dr Fredrick Ochieng, who was recalled to police headquarters, Vigilance House, in changes announced by Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat.
Lagat also recalled Central Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati to Vigilance House and replaced him with Railway Police boss Geoffrey Maiyek.
In the changes, senior officer John Chebii, who was based at the General Service Unit and recently returned from the Haiti mission, was moved to Eastern and named the Regional Police Commander (RPC). Chebii replaced Hillary Birgen, who was recalled to police headquarters.
The new Uasin Gishu police boss will be Wilberforce Sicharani.
Officials said the changes are normal and aimed at enhancing operations in the affected areas ahead of the planned polls next year. More changes are expected in the coming days in the service, insiders said.
The changes come days after the government named new Regional Commissioners (RCs) for the Eastern, Nyanza and Western regions in fresh administrative changes that also saw five County Commissioners recalled to the Office of the President at Harambee House in Nairobi.
In changes announced on Friday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the reshuffle was aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening coordination of national government functions across the country.
Rhoda Onyancha was moved from Coast to Nairobi in the same capacity.
Former Meru County Commissioner Jacob Muganda was promoted and deployed as Eastern Regional Commissioner, replacing Paul Rotich, who was transferred to the Coast Region.
Samson Macharia was recalled to headquarters from Western. The same applied to Nyanza’s Flora Mworoah.
Those retained as Regional Commissioners included Joseph Nkanatha (Central), John Otieno (North Eastern) and Abdi Hassan (Rift Valley).
Kakamega County Commissioner Onesmus Musyoki Kyatha was also elevated and deployed to head the Nyanza Region.
The changes further saw Allan Machari deployed to the Western Region from the Office of the President headquarters.
Murkomen said the transfers and promotions were informed by the officers’ experience and prevailing security and administrative needs in different parts of the country.
“The transfers have taken into consideration the strengths and experiences of the officers as we address the various security and service delivery concerns,” he said.
At the county level, five County Commissioners were recalled to the Office of the President’s headquarters in Nairobi in changes that touched more than a dozen counties.
Those moved to headquarters are Gideon Nyandiricha Oyagi from Trans Nzoia, David Kipkosgei Kiprop from Isiolo, Josephine Auma Ouko from Machakos, David Simiyu Wanyonyi from Kilifi and Joseph Mwangi Wamuti from Tana River.
The reshuffle also affected counties considered critical in national security and administration.
Joseph Kibet Boen was transferred from Kiambu to Kilifi, Stephen Kutwa Sangolo moved from Baringo to Lamu, while Jeremiah Mwai Gicheru was redeployed from Kericho to Tana River.
John Kiprotich Cheruiyot was moved from Samburu to Meru; Mwachaunga Mohamed Chaunga was transferred from Kisii to Machakos, while Shufaa Omar Mwijuma was redeployed from Nyamira to Kirinyaga.
New deployments were also made in counties facing persistent security and cross-border challenges.
Jackson Ngelai Olechuta was deployed to Garissa, Stanley Ndungu Kamande to Marsabit, George Odhiambo Omolo to Isiolo and Isaac Keter Cheruiyot to Samburu.
George Matundura was moved from Rongo to Kiambu, while Ali Omari was transferred from Kamukunji to Kericho.
Murkomen defended the changes, saying the officers promoted and redeployed had demonstrated exemplary performance in previous assignments.
