Johana Tonoi appointed the new GSU Commandant
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Wednesday announced changes in the senior command of the Kenya Police Service, affecting key formations within the service.
According to the changes, Johana Tonoi appointed the new Commandant of the General Service Unit (GSU), taking over from Renson Lolmodooni, who is retiring from the National Police Service.
Tonui has been working at the Kenya Wildlife Service as the director of security on secondment.
In the same reshuffle, Fredrick Nyongesa, who had been serving as Deputy GSU Commandant, and Paul Mumo, the Director of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), were among senior officers affected by the transfers and appointments announced by the Inspector General who was in Japan while benchmarking for the formation of a new Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.
The changes are part of a wider reorganization of the police command structure ahead of the retirement of senior officers and are aimed at strengthening leadership within specialized units of the National Police Service.
They also come ahead 2027 general elections when police will be heavily used.
Police play a crucial role in elections at large.
The changes are seen as part of preparations for the polls in which President William Ruto will seek reelection hence the higher stakes.
Officials said more changes are expected in the coming days. Railway Police boss Geoffrey Maiyek was moved and named the new Central Regional Police Commander in changes in the police.
In the changes announced on May 18 by Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat, the Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi was moved and named the new traffic commandant.
Mwanthi replaced Dr Fredrick Ochieng who was recalled to police headquarters, Vigilance House.
Lagat also recalled Central RPC Jasper Ombati to Vigilance House and replaced him with Maiyek
In the changes, senior officer based at General Service Unit and who came back from the Haiti mission Johna Chebii was moved to Eastern and named the RPC.
Chebii replaced Hillary Birgen who was recalled to police headquarters.
The new Uasin Gishu police is Wilberforce Sicharani.