Issa Mohamud has officially taken over as the new Nairobi regional police commander following a mini-reshuffle, swapping positions with his Nairobi counterpart George Seda.
The changes, announced last Friday, were marked by a handover event on Wednesday, where Mohamud was introduced to the 12 subcounty police bosses (OCPDs) in Nairobi.
Mohamud is returning to familiar territory, having previously served as a subcounty police boss in Kabete before postings in Machakos, West Pokot and Western region as regional commander.
His appointment comes as the country heads towards elections, a period that often sees heightened security demands.
Nairobi has recorded relatively low crime overall, except for occasional incidents involving boda boda riders—a trend also observed in Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret, and other major towns.
Mohamud said he plans to involve all stakeholders to address the city’s security challenges.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat described the reshuffle as normal and aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
Other regional commanders remain unchanged, including Evelyn Gisiri (Nyanza), Pepita Ranka (North Eastern), Jasper Ombati (Central), Samuel Ndanyi (Rift Valley), Ali Nuno (Coast), and Hillary Birgen (Eastern).
The changes follow a wider senior command reshuffle announced by Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, including the appointment of a new regional criminal investigations officer for Nairobi after the retirement of Abdallah Komesha on March 5, 2026.
Daniel Kandie, formerly regional criminal investigations officerCoast, replaces Benson Kasyoki as regional criminal investigations officer Nairobi, taking charge of investigations in the capital, a region known for its high crime rate and economic significance.
Kasyoki has been redeployed to the Coast region.
Other senior changes include Francis Ndiema replacing Rosemary Nkuraru as director of personnel, who shifts from Forensics, while Sospeter Munyi moves from commandant of the National Criminal Investigations Academy to director of Forensics.
Jillo Ibrahim takes over as NCIA commandant.
The reshuffle affects strategic departments including investigations, forensics, personnel and training, key pillars in the DCI’s operations.
It is expected to strengthen operational efficiency, enhance forensic capacity and improve investigative coordination across regions.
Nairobi, as the country’s capital and economic hub, often handles high-profile criminal cases ranging from economic crimes to organised crime networks.
The appointment of a new regional criminal investigations officer signals a renewed focus on boosting investigative performance, particularly targeting organised crime and boda boda gangs, which have been linked to a string of lynching incidents in the past year.
Officials also plan to subdivide Nairobi into three major boroughs to meet rising policing needs.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The Nairobi police reshuffle reflects a strategic move to strengthen security ahead of the upcoming elections, addressing both routine and organised crime challenges in the capital. Issa Mohamud’s appointment as regional police commander and Daniel Kandie as regional criminal investigations officer signals renewed focus on operational efficiency, investigative capacity and coordination across regions. The reshuffle, affecting key pillars such as forensics, personnel, and training, aims to tackle emerging threats, including boda boda-related incidents and gang activity. Subdividing Nairobi into three policing boroughs underscores a proactive approach to localized security management, emphasizing preparedness, accountability, and community engagement in a high-stakes urban environment.
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