Police Reject Proposed Law That Could Force IG Douglas Kanja Out of Office
The National Police Service (NPS) has strongly opposed a proposed law that seeks to set a retirement age and term limit for the Inspector General (IG) of Police and his deputies.
During a session with the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Tuesday, the NPS Director of Legal Affairs, Amos Obuga, said that the performance and leadership of an Inspector General should not be judged by age.
Instead, he argued that factors such as competence, experience, and institutional knowledge should determine whether an IG continues to serve.
Obuga was giving his views on the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was introduced by Teso North Member of Parliament Oku Kaunya. The bill proposes setting the retirement age for the IG and the Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) at 60 years.
If this bill becomes law, current Inspector General Douglas Kanja, who is 61 years old, could be forced to leave office.
The bill also suggests introducing a five-year term limit for the Deputy Inspector Generals, who currently do not have a fixed term.
At the moment, the Constitution only limits the IG to a single, non-renewable four-year term. Article 245 of the Constitution states that the Inspector General shall serve for one term of four years and is not eligible for reappointment.
In addition, the proposed amendment aims to create new procedures for how the IG and DIGs are appointed and removed from office.
Obuga, however, warned that if the bill is passed, it could lock out highly experienced and capable officers who have dedicated many years to serving the police service.
“While age often comes with experience, it should not be used as a reason to disqualify someone from leadership.
The main qualifications for an Inspector General or Deputy Inspector General should be competence, integrity, professionalism, and the ability to think strategically,” said Kanja.
MP Oku Kaunya defended the bill, saying that it is intended to ensure that leadership within the police service remains dynamic and effective.
According to him, the proposal will help improve succession planning while ensuring that only officers with the necessary energy and capacity to lead the demanding institution are appointed.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Ahmed Issack Hassan, supported the bill — especially the sections that provide for a clearer and more transparent process for appointing and removing the IG and DIG.
He explained that this proposal aligns with the recommendations of the “National Task Force on Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service and Other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service,” commonly known as the Maraga Taskforce.
Hassan also emphasized the importance of ensuring that appointments to the top police offices comply with the two-thirds gender rule as outlined in Article 27 of the Constitution.
He noted that other East African countries already have clear retirement limits for police officers.
“For instance, in Tanzania, the retirement age for officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent up to the Inspector General is 60 years.
In Uganda, police officers are expected to retire at 55 years or after serving for 20 years continuously. However, Uganda does not have a specific retirement age for the Deputy Inspector General,” Hassan said.
The debate over the bill has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewing it as an important reform that could bring order and fairness to the police leadership structure, while others see it as a move that could force out experienced officers like IG Douglas Kanja prematurely.
As Parliament continues to deliberate, the proposed changes are expected to shape the future of leadership within Kenya’s security services.
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