Douglas Kanja Kirocho is the new Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service.
He was recently sworn in to this position by Chief Justice Martha Koome on April 13, 2024, as the Deputy Inspector-General of police. He will now be serving as acting Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service until sworn in.
Prior to his appointment as Deputy Inspector-General, Kanja served as the Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU), a specialized paramilitary unit of the Kenya Police Service, since 2018. During his tenure as GSU Commandant, the elite Recce Squad under his leadership rescued over 100 individuals during the 2019 Dusit terror attack.
Kanja has had a long career with the Kenya Police Service, joining in 1988 and steadily rising through the ranks. He has previously served as the Kilifi County Police boss, the deputy commandant of the Kenya Airports Police Unit, and the director of operations for the National Police Service.
Between 2005 and 2013, Kanja also acted as the chief armourer for the Kenya Police Service. He has led various operations in the past, including Operation Rejesha Amani in Isiolo and Marsabit counties, and Operation Fagia Msitu in Boni Forest.
As the new Deputy Inspector-General, Kanja will be the second-highest ranking officer in the National Police Service, reporting directly to the Inspector-General Japhet Koome. He will oversee key units such as the GSU, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Traffic Police Department, as well as manage the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo.
Kanja’s appointment comes after the recent resignation of Inspector-General Japhet Koome, though the reasons for Koome’s resignation have not been officially disclosed.
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