Controversy has dogged Deputy IG since 2012 appointment by Kibaki
Outgoing Deputy Inspector-General of Police Grace Kaindi at a past function. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Their appointments triggered a controversy, with then President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga failing to reach a consensus despite their power-sharing deal.
- Mr Odinga had, two months earlier in January, rejected the appointments of Ms Kaindi, Mr Arachi and Mr Muhoro, saying he had not been consulted as required by the Constitution.
- Earlier this year, the National Police Service Commission, through chairman Johnstone Kavuludi, wrote to Ms Kaindi asking her to retire on the grounds that she had reached the age of retirement.
Grace Syombua Kaindi was named deputy inspector-general of the Kenya Police after an interview on November 9, 2012.
The former Kenya Airports Police Unit commandant was sworn in by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga at the Supreme Court on February 13, 2013 together with her Administration Police counterpart Samuel Arachi and Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Muhoro Ndegwa.
Their appointments triggered a controversy, with then President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga failing to reach a consensus despite their power-sharing deal.
NOT CONSULTED
Mr Odinga had, two months earlier in January, rejected the appointments of Ms Kaindi, Mr Arachi and Mr Muhoro, saying he had not been consulted as required by the Constitution.
He said the appointments were illegal and unconstitutional.
Despite the standoff, Ms Kaindi’s nomination was applauded by the National Gender and Equality Commission and some non-governmental organisations, which said the President had done the right thing by appointing a woman to a top post in the Kenya police, which was in dire need of reforms.
Ms Kaindi served under Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo and both were under extreme pressure from all quarters to resign as insecurity escalated in the country, especially after the Westgate mall attack on September 21, 2013.
Despite subsequent attacks that included the killings of police officers in Kapedo and the Garissa University College attack, Ms Kaindi did not bow to pressure to quit.
ASKED TO RETIRE
Earlier this year, the National Police Service Commission, through chairman Johnstone Kavuludi, wrote to Ms Kaindi asking her to retire on the grounds that she had reached the age of retirement.
Ms Kaindi contested the directive, saying she was entitled to serve until 2018.
On July 13, the commission reversed its decision to retire Ms Kaindi and indicated that she would remain in office until 2018.
The retreat was a result of legal consultations that included an exchange of letters between Ms Kaindi’s office, the commission and the office of her commanding officer, the inspector-general, as well as the Treasury.
Ms Kaindi, according to the National Police Service website, holds a master's degree in international relations from the University of Nairobi and another master's in risk, crisis and disaster management from the University of Leicester in the UK.
