Economy

Kimaiyo puts on a brave face in unceremonious exit

Outgoing Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo put on a brave face Tuesday, even as the curtain unceremoniously came down on his 34-year career.

Mr Kimaiyo tendered his resignation to President Uhuru Kenyatta, bowing to immense pressure over the recent wave of terrorism in Mandera that has claimed 64 lives within a week.

The Monday night attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militia came barely days after 28 bus passengers headed to their homes for the December holidays were ambushed and killed in the same county.

But Mr Kimaiyo said Tuesday his exit was not out of coercion but was a personal decision to attend to family-related issues.

“I joined the police force when I was 20 years old and my early resignation is an individual decision to attend to personal issues,” he told reporters at the Jogoo House police headquarters in Nairobi.

“I have discussed with his Excellency the President and he has accepted my early retirement.”

Mr Kimaiyo came to public limelight less than two years ago when he was appointed the Inspector General.

READ: 36 people killed in fresh Mandera massacre

The Monday night killing of quarry workers in Mandera marked the end of his tenure and that of Joseph ole Lenku, who is set be replaced as Interior secretary by Major General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery. Mr Ole Lenku, 44, had held the position since May last year.

Maj-Gen (Rtd) Nkaiserry, 65, currently the Member of Parliament for Kajiado Central, served as assistant minister for Defence under President Mwai Kibaki between 2008 and March 2013.

Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Kimaiyo said that despite the security lapses on his watch, he had managed to thwart many other unreported cases in northern Kenya that could have had worse effects had they happened.

“We are going through a challenging time as a country but we would rather remain united,” said Mr Kimaiyo.

The Mandera attack happened just four hours after three men, all armed with AK-47 rifles, attacked a club in Wajir where they shot dead one person and injured 13 others.

The masked attackers raided Ngamia Club, about 800 metres from the Wajir Police Station, and shot indiscriminately at the revellers.

After the club attack, the gunmen raided a Kenya Power sub-station but were repulsed by the officers who were guarding the area.

Mr  Kimaiyo, 54, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and criminal Administration and a Master of Science degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of South Africa and University of Leicester, respectively.

A staunch Christian, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in theology from the Beacon University of Institute Ministry. He is currently pursuing a PhD in criminology and social order at the University of Nairobi.

Mr Kimaiyo served as the Commander Presidential Escort Unit between 1999 and 2002 before taking up the position of Commandant of General Service Unit between 2002 and 2003.

He subsequently worked for one year as coordinator of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons before taking up the role of Director of Operations of the Kenya Police until 2008.