Spy chief vetting hit by regional balance queries

 

 

Maj-Gen Philip Kameru, who has been nominated as director-general of the National Intelligence Service. PHOTO | PSCU  Maj-Gen Philip Kameru, who has been nominated as director-general of the National Intelligence Service. PHOTO | PSCU

By Edwin Mutai and Lynet Igadwah

In Summary

• Homa Bay’s Peter Kaluma says docket dominated by two ethnic groups.

An MP has written to Speaker Justin Muturi opposing the nomination of Major General Philip Wachira Kameru as the next spy chief, claiming the security docket is dominated by individuals from two regional blocs.

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Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said the appointment violated Article 238(2) of the Constitution which requires recruitment by the national security organs to reflect diversity of Kenyans.

Mr Kaluma sought the Speaker’s intervention to stop the vetting and approval of Major General Kameru in order to allow the President to nominate another person from other Kenyan tribes or regions not represented in the current security leadership.

Major General Kameru, who was appointed from the military to head the National Intelligence Service (NIS) as its director general appeared before the National Assembly’s Defence and Foreign Relations committee Tuesday.

Major Gen Kameru said he would reach out to the international community for assistance in combating terrorism.

“I am aware that a number of young people joined Al Shabaab in 2006/07 and finding a way of bringing them back is one of the strategies in place,” he said.

Committee chairman and Tetu MP Ndung’u Githinji resolved that members go on a private session for the candidate to disclose his strategies on addressing insecurity in the country due to sensitivity of the matter.

READ: Uhuru nominates Maj-Gen Kameru as spy chief

If approved, he will take up the crucial role whose performance has been under sharp scrutiny in the recent past in the wake of attacks in parts of the country. Major General Kameru would replace Major General Michael Gichangi who resigned.

Although the chief of spy agency has the security of tenure, the appointment is deemed political given the candidate must be someone the President has confidence in.

Mr Kaluma argued that 11 key leaders of the national security organs were from two communities and named them as President Uhuru Kenyatta, the commander in chief of the Defence Forces, Chief of General Staff General Julius Karangi, Commander Kenya Air force, Major General Samwel Thuita and commander Kenya Army lieutenant Joseph Kiptoo Kasaon.

Others are Directorate of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro, Inspector General National Police Service David Kimaiyo, commander Kenya Navy Major General Ngewa Mukala, director National Youth Service Nelson Githinji, director Kenya Forest Service David Mbugua, director Kenya Wildlife Service William Kibet Kiprono and chairman Nyumba Kumi Initiative Joseph Kaguthi.

Mr Kaluma, who recently sought a statement regarding ethnic composition in the Kenya security forces, said President Kenyatta should have made the appointments that reflect regional balance.

“The President in this appointment has contradicted his promise to build a Kenyan nation to which all belong and access opportunities,” he said in the letter received in the Speakers office on Tuesday.