Who Is This Man Hilary Mutyambai Set To Be Top Cop

Who is this Hilary Mutyambai? The first impression he gives is an ordinary soft-spoken man who is a good listener and speaks little. This is quite the opposite of what you would expect from the nominee for the country’s chief cop.

But the name of the career police officer-turned-spy, who has kept his life private, elicits admiration in counter violent extremism circles, owing to his achievements. During the unfortunate Dusit D2 complex terrorist attack, Hilary was the guy who coordinated security forces in the rescue operation.

Hilary joined the Kenya Police Service in 1998 as a corporal and made his way to the top at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) where is currently is the deputy director of Counter Terrorism Intelligence. “He is a witty man who acts diplomatically. He knows what he does and does what he knows,” is what a colleague had to say about him.

President Kenyatta through the State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena released an executive order on Wednesday to nominate Hilary in line with Article 245(2) of the Constitution. As the law clearly stipulates, the fate of Hilary is left to the Parliament so they can either approve or reject and this will be after National Assembly’s Administration and National Security Committee have vetted him.

The National Police Service Commission Act requires the National Assembly to approve or reject the nominee for the position of IG within 21 days from the date the Speaker makes the announcement. The IG designate holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Arts degree in national security policy from the Australian National University, which his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Boinnet, also attended.

As reported by Nation, Hilary has undergone specialized training in counter-terrorism in New Orleans (USA), operational management in the UK, advanced security analysis in the US, policing, intelligence and counter terrorism in Israel. It says that Mr. Mutyambai, who comes from Mwala, Machakos County, also served as Kenya’s political attaché in Uganda from 2000 to 2004.

In the occasion that Mr. Mutyambai gets into office, his responsibilities will include security sector reforms, counter terrorism, police welfare, transnational crimes and vetting of civilian firearm holders, among others. He will be expected to implement pending structural changes in the police service, including the appointment of the new ward commanders. He will also oversee the work of the recently appointed regional commanders. He also will be closely monitored by human rights groups, which have persistently accused the police of extrajudicial executions, harassment and abuse of power.

The New IG will be expected to implement pending structural changes in the police service including the appointment of new Ward Commanders. He will also oversee the work of the recently appointed Regional Commanders, County Commanders and Sub County Commanders that saw the removal of the Officer In Charge of Station (OCPD) positions scrapped.

One of Mr Mutyambai’s heaviest duty will be to fight corruption among police officers- which has been blamed for impeding the fight against crime.

He at the same time will be expected to oversee the implementation of the structural and organizational changes announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year, that saw the partial merger of the Administration Police Service and the Kenya Police Service.

The IGP will also be on the radar of human rights groups who have constantly accused the police of extrajudicial executions, harassment and misuse of power.

Since he will serve for four years, he will oversee the 2022 General Elections and ensure that he maintains order and calm before, during and after.

He will work closely with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons (KNFP), the Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA), the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) among others.