During his tour of Kiganjo Police College in Nyeri, the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, surprised a constable with an instant promotion.
Koome, on Tuesday, August 8, promoted the constable to the rank of corporal and station commander.
The Inspector General, who made the announcement after inspecting a guard of honour at the college, based his decision on the service period and eligibility of the officers.
It was yet to be clear whether the officers' performances were evaluated, whether they sat in an interview or faced a selection panel and if a vacancy was announced.
Nevertheless, a visibly impressed IG congratulated the two officers for their performance and conduct before engaging them.
“Amongst you who is the senior most and when were you employed?” Koome asked
A corporal stepped forward and stood at attention before answering that he was enrolled in 2016. Koome acknowledged him before inquiring whether any other office within the guard of honour joined the forces pre-2015.
With no other police officer responding to the question, Koome asked the corporal to move forward and shake his hand amid applause from other senior law enforcers.
“From today onwards, you will be a corporal and a station commander, and do not let me down,” IG Koome noted.
Caught by surprise, the officer obliged Koome's order and marched forward to shake the IG's hand while remaining alert and attentive.
"Do not let me down,” IG Koome advised the officer before dismissing him to join the guard of honour.
The IG's promotion of the officer may be subjected to sharp criticism, considering that he was recently condemned for overstepping the mandate of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
In June 2023, NPSC accused Koome of unlawfully promoting over 507 police officers, including Nairobi police commander Adamson Bungei. It argued that it was tasked to appoint, promoted and dismiss officers contrary to Koome's directives.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Erick Theuri also threatened to file a lawsuit against Koome, accusing him of violating the Constitution.
Nonetheless, while addressing the officers at Kiganjo, the Inspector General cautioned them against being convinced by empty promises issued by politicians or heartbroken by their criticism.
“We are not in the business of responding to politicians; ours is to discharge our mandate,” IG Koome remarked in response to opposition leaders who condemned the police for using extra force to quell protests.
He encouraged the officers to remain steadfast in discharging their duties and avoid to refrain from giving excessive attention to political influence.
