More than 1,000 police officers of the rank of inspector have been promoted in changes in the National Police Service.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome made the announcement in memos to the affected officers.
The promotions according to insiders have been pending for a long period.
This is after they went through interview sessions.
They include 381 from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, 471 from the Kenya Police, and more than 200 from the Administration Police.
They were informed of the promotions in internal communication dated July 31 and congratulated.
“They may now wear appropriate badges of rank pertinent to the rank of Chief Inspector of Police.
Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion.
“Consequently promoted officers from Kenya Police Service are to be informed and released to report to NPC Main Campus Kiganjo for a six (6) week of training starting from Monday, 7th August 2023.
Joining instructions to follow,” read part of the memo.
Most officers of the rank of Chief Inspector serve as Officers Commanding Station (OCS) and hence are seen as crucial in the general running of police service.
Others serve as the sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers (DCIOs).
In investigations, they are the ones allowed to record confessions for use in cases.
They also command various operations at different stages.
This comes amid a dispute between some commissioners at the National Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on who should affect promotions and at what stage.
A case is pending in court over the sage and has since been pushed to November 2023.
The commission has since met to iron out the differences and agreed but the agreement is yet to be registered in court.
The commission said they have agreed and they will register the consent soon.
Petitions were filed in court following a move by the IG to promote 514 senior officers to various ranks in accordance with provisions of the Constitution 2010.
