Elema Halake sworn in as new IPOA boss

Elema Halake has been sworn in as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Halake’s oath was administered by the Registrar of the Court of Appeal Moses Serem at the Supreme Court buildings in Nairobi on Wednesday, in a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

His appointment follows IPOA’s advertising of the vacancy on November 23, 2021.

IPOA board chairperson Anne Makori, in a statement released later Wednesday, stated that Halake ranked highest among all interviewees after meeting all facets of the recruitment exercise, including evaluation by other government agencies.

“The Board has full confidence that he will steer IPOA forward especially at a time Kenya is preparing to transit to the next national and county governments, after the August General election, barely five months away,” she said.

“On behalf of the Board, I pledge unequivocal support to the Authority’s new CEO, congratulate him for his worthwhile appointment and place all our trust in his endeavours to propel the Authority to the next level.”

On March 14, reports alleged that Makori prematurely ended a board meeting in which seven board members out of nine voted to confirm Halake into the position after the recruitment exercise was completed.

She allegedly also refused to sign minutes from the meeting in a move that some board members labelled as unconstitutional and a breach of her powers.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) would a week later launch investigations into the incident.