President William Ruto has appointed Douglas Kanja to the position of the Inspector General of Police.

Kanja assumed the position of acting IG after the resignation of Japhet Koome on July 12, 2024.

Kanja has had a four-decade career in law enforcement which started in 1985, during which he rose through the ranks to the top command of the Service. 

He previously served as Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service and was the Commandant of the General Service Unit for five years.

Kanja was also the Deputy Commandant of the General Service Unit for three years, County Police Commander in charge of Kilifi County, Deputy Commandant of Kenya Airports Police Unit, Chief Armourer at the Police Headquarters and Deputy Chief Armourer at the Kenya Police Service Headquarters, among other high-level positions within the ranks of the National Police Service. 

“The I.G Nominee has undertaken extensive security-related training at home and abroad. A career police officer who has served for a cumulative period of thirty-nine years,” said head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a statement.

Koskei also announced the appointment of Eliud Kipkoech Langat to the position of Deputy Inspector General (Kenya Police Service) and Gilbert Masengeli as Deputy IG of the Administration Police Service.

Pending Kanja’s vetting process by both Houses of Parliament, Masengeli has been appointed as the acting IG.