IG Koome instantly promotes 2 police officers at Kiganjo college

Upon his arrival at the college, IG Koome was welcomed by a quarter parade commanded by Corporal Praxides Ayuma. 

Impressed by the parade, Koome began to engage the officers in a dialogue.

He instantly promoted Praxides Ayuma to the rank of Sergeant while Hamdi Arafat was promoted from constable to police corporal. 

The IG promoted Arafat on the grounds that he was the senior most among the officers present, as he had been in the service since 2016.

"Congratulations, from today you are sectional commander, don't let me down," Koome told Arafat.

He likewise met all station commanders whom he said will aid in ensuring the proper management of operations in police stations and improve service delivery.

"All are from all regions and representative of all genders. These are officers who love their country and who are willing to serve the country," he said.

The police boss further asserted that police officers shall not be derailed to administer their duties, claiming that a few leaders have been spreading false propaganda to soil the police force's image.

"We have seen senior Kenyans taking bodies from morgues and calling media to say these have been killed by the police. We have a duty to protect the people and property and we shall carry out our mandate," he said.

"We shall do it without fear or favour and threats of taking us to court to icc will not stop us."

He maintained that officers will always act within the purviews of the law and will therefore not hesitate to administer justice to whoever breaches the law guidelines, including those who might take part in the anti-government protests.

"And we shall use all the equipment at our disposal, even the gun we use has been bought by the Kenyans. You are telling people to go attack the police, let nobody deceive you young people. You see my officers have been injured by stones, then you think I will have mercy on you? Hiyo bunduki sio mkwaju," he said. 

"We shall not waver, what the police have done in the recent past is good work, I wish I had medals I would give them medals. They have done well."

The promotions however lie on the backdrop of a case filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge which sought to suspend the promotions of 514 officers announced by IG Koome.

In the case, Senator Okiya Omtata challenged the promotion, accusing IG Koome of assuming the mandate of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) contrary to the Constitution.

Judge Byram Ongaya ordered that NPSC and IG Koome should convene and reach a consensus regarding police promotion.