Douglas Kanja officially took the oath of office as Kenya’s new Inspector General of the National Police Service at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court buildings on Thursday. His swearing-in comes just hours after President William Ruto appointed him to the position, following approval from both the National Assembly and Senate.
Kanja’s tenure as the fifth IG under the 2010 Constitution begins as he takes over from Japhet Koome, who resigned in July after nationwide protests led by young Kenyans against the Finance Act 2024.
Kanja, who served as the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police before his appointment, was accompanied by his family during the swearing-in. The ceremony, presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome, is seen as a crucial step as the new IG takes charge of a force facing numerous challenges, including growing public scrutiny and demands for police reform.
Meanwhile, the day also marked a legal blow for former Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli. His attempt to block a six-month jail term for contempt of court was dismissed by High Court Justice Chacha Mwita.
Masengeli had sought an audience with Justice Lawrence Mugambi, who sentenced him, to apologize and void the conviction. However, the court rejected his bid, stating there were no sufficient grounds to reverse the sentence.
Masengeli was found guilty of contempt after failing to release individuals allegedly held in police custody, as per a court order. His legal team had hoped to prevent the start of the jail term, but with the ruling in place, Masengeli is now expected to surrender to prison authorities.
