Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Eliud Lagat announced mini changes affecting three directorates within the Kenya Police at Vigilance House.
In the changes, the Directorate of Community Policing, previously headed by Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Judy Lamet, was split into two separate units.
One of the new units included the Directorate of the Children and Gender Protection Unit.
The other created unit was the Counselling Unit, which will now focus on mental health of the police at large.
Mental health issues have been a concern in the service at large and needed special attention, hence the creation of the unit.
At least 10 per cent of the police officers have mental-related issues, a past research shows.
In the new changes, Lamet will continue as Director of Community Policing, focusing on strengthening the relationship between the police and the public, while Dolly Onyango was appointed as the new Director of the Children and Gender Protection Unit.
The new directorate, which was hived from the Community Policing, will handle matters touching on children and women, including cases of gender-based violence and crimes affecting children.
Lagat also divided the Directorate of Chaplaincy and Psychosocial Support into two units, appointing new commanders for each.
Dr. Vincent Makoha, who previously led the Chaplaincy unit, was redeployed to police headquarters at Vigilance House, while Evelyne Njeri, a trained counsellor, will now head the newly established Counselling Unit.
The unit is supposed to focus on mental health of many police officers in the service.
The menace is on the rise, which has prompted the creation of the unit to address it, officials said.
Many police officers are being killed or killing over mental health issues. This has negatively affected police services.
In the changes, Lagat also moved and named Clinton Kimaiyo, formerly the Deputy Head of the RECCE Unit, was posted as Murang’a County police commander by Kimaiyo is expected to lead operations against illicit brews and the invasion of private lands by criminal squatters.
There is also a menace of pineapple thieves at the expansive Delmonte farm.
Muranga is also facing a rise in murder cases. He succeeded Benjamin Kimwele, who was recalled to police headquarters.
The Rift Valley region got a new Deputy Police Chief after Michael Ndiaga, previously serving at the Regional Headquarters in Nakuru, took over from Joel Lekuta, who was redeployed to the Logistics Department at Vigilance House, Kenya Police headquarters.
More changes are expected in the service to enhance operations, officials said.
