Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Eliud Lagat has announced a series of mini changes within the Kenya Police, affecting three key directorates at Vigilance House. The shake-up includes the creation of a dedicated Counselling Unit aimed at addressing mental health challenges among police officers.
In a move to strengthen specialized services, the Directorate of Community Policing, previously led by Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Judy Lamet, was split into two separate units. Lamet will continue as Director of Community Policing, focusing on enhancing the relationship between the police and the public.
The newly established Directorate of the Children and Gender Protection Unit will be headed by Dolly Onyango. The unit, carved out of Community Policing, will handle matters affecting children and women, including cases of gender-based violence and crimes against minors.
The Counselling Unit, led by trained counsellor Evelyne Njeri, was formed from the division of the Directorate of Chaplaincy and Psychosocial Support, previously overseen by Dr. Vincent Makoha, who has now been redeployed to police headquarters. This new unit will focus specifically on the mental health of officers, a concern that has been rising in recent years. Research indicates that at least 10 percent of police officers experience mental health issues, a factor linked to increasing incidents of self-harm and violence within the service.
“The menace is on the rise, which prompted the creation of this unit to provide the necessary support and improve officer welfare,” officials noted.
The reshuffle also included key personnel movements across counties. Clinton Kimaiyo, formerly Deputy Head of the RECCE Unit, has been posted as Murang’a County Police Commander, where he will lead operations against illicit brews, criminal squatters, and pineapple thefts at Del Monte Farm. He succeeds Benjamin Kimwele, recalled to police headquarters.
In the Rift Valley region, Michael Ndiaga has been appointed Deputy Police Chief, taking over from Joel Lekuta, who has been redeployed to the Logistics Department at Vigilance House.
Officials indicated that more changes are expected in the service to strengthen operational efficiency and address emerging security challenges.
With the creation of the Counselling Unit and strategic appointments, the Kenya Police is taking steps to enhance both the welfare of officers and the quality of policing across the country.
