Hillary Mutyambai on Monday took oath of office as the new Inspector-General of Police.
The former intelligence officer was sworn-in in a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice David Maraga at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
He takes over from Joseph Boinnet, whose four-year non-renewable term ended last month.
In his speech, Mutyambai vowed to firmly deal with corruption in the police service, which has previously been ranked as the most corrupt government department.
He said he will set up a special unit to investigate cases of corruption within the police service.
“I am fully in support the ongoing fight against corruption and I want to be clear that we must all join hands in the fight against the vice. We as the National Police Service we play our enforcement role guided by high fidelity to the law and also ensure we eliminate corruption within our rank and file,” said Mutyambai.
“I will initiate a system that enhances accountability and responsibility with the National Police Service that will enhance and expand the work of the independent internal affairs unit to investigate corruption cases within the police service.”
He has extensive anti-terrorism experience and has studied in the US, the UK, and Israel.
Mutyambai further said that his main priorities will be to improve service delivery in police stations and improve the working conditions for police officers as well as their pay.
“We will endeavor to build new police stations and renovate the old ones to meet the modern policing standards and improve the working conditions of our police officers,” says Mutyambai.
He has also vowed to deal with rogue police officers who violate human rights.
The 55-year-old was nominated to the position by President Kenyatta in a gazette notice dated April 8th, 2019.
He previously served as Deputy Director Counter-Terrorism at the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Nina imani ya kwamba Ndugu…
Nina imani ya kwamba Ndugu Mutyambai atang’oa magugu katika idara yake mpya. Magugu (weeds) haya yanavaa mavazi ya askari polisi lakini ni majambazi na matapeli.
Miaka miwili iliyopita, niliwapeleka wajukuu wangu kutembea katika nchi ya Kenya kwa mara ya kwanza. Safari hii ilikuwa na watu watano. Wajukuu wawili, mwanangu, na mkewe. Tulikodesha motokaa Nairobi halafu tukaanza safari yetu.
Tulisimamishwa na askari polisi barabarani halafu wakasema mwanangu alikuwa akiendesha motokaa kwa mwendo wa kasi (speeding). Walisema ni lazima mwanangu atoe shilingi 5,000.00 (yaani shilingi elfu tano za kenya) au tuwache gari hapo barabarani mpaka watakapopokea shilingi hizo. Ilikuwa siku ya Jumapili jioni jioni hivi.
Niliondoka kwenye gari halafu nikawa pamoja na mwanangu ambaye alikuwa amestaajabu sana kuona tabia kama hii. Marekani, iwapo umevunja sheria za barabarani, polisi wanakusimamisha na kukupa tikiti ambayo unatakiwa kulipa. Baada ya kukupa tikiti, wanakuruhusu kuendelea na safari yako.
Kuna wakati ambapo polisi hawakupi tikiti lakini hukushika na kukuweka pingu mikononi. Kama umelewa kiasi ambacho unaweza kuhatarisha maisha ya watu wengine barabarani, hawakuruhusu kuendesha motokaa. Ukiwa kwenye hali hii, motokaa yako inakokotwa na kuwekwa salama. Kwa vile polisi wana kompyuta zao, wanapokusimamisha, wanakuomba leseni ya motokaa yako halafu huiweka kwenye kompyuta. Iwapo ulikuwa na hatia nyingine ambayo ulikuwa umefanya na kujificha, hapo wanakushika na kukutia pingu mara moja.
Mwanangu alipelekwa kwenye gari la polisi ambako aliambiwa atoe shilingi elfu nne (sh.4,000.00). Alimpa mwanamke askari polisi ambaye kazi yake ilikuwa kukaa ndani ya gari hili na kupokea pesa za wananchi.
Nilikasirika sana huku nikijiuliza, idara ya polisi imesimamiwa na mtu ambaye hata hajui wananchi wanavyotendewa na askari polisi wake ambao wamekuwa majambazi na matapeli sugu (incorrigible).
Nakuomba tafadhali Ndugu Mutyamba, komesha tabia hii mbaya inayowafanya askari kuwaibia wananchi pesa barabarani huku wamejivalia mavazi ya askari polisi na kofia ambayo imeandikwa, “Utumishi kwa Wote.” Je, ninaweza kufanya nini ili askari waliopokea shilingi za mwanangu washikwe na kuondolewa kazini mara moja?
Wajukuu wangu walistaajabu sana kuona maovu yaliyofanyiwa baba yao na askari polisi huku ikiwa mara yao ya kwanza kuja Kenya na kuona nchi ya babu yao – yaani mimi.
Mwishowe, ningependa uwape wananchi ruhusa ya kunakili mawasiliano yote baina ya polisi nao, ili magugu yaliyovaa nguo za askari polisi na huku ni majambazi na matapeli wang’atuliwe (forced to retire) kwa manufaa ya umma.
Congrats Sir! We believe you…
Congrats Sir! We believe you are the right man for the job. Please save our men in blue and boots from bad working conditions as you weed ou corruption in the force. Wakenya twasimama na viongozi ambao wako tayari kuijenga nchi.