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Parliamentary Vetting Opening Statement By

Inspector General Nominee Hilary Nzioki Mutyambai
Parliament 28th March 2019,
Nairobi, Kenya

Thank you, Hon Yusuf Haji the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on
National Security and Foreign Relations and Hon Paul Koinange, the Chairman of
the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Security.

Thank you Honorable members, of these joint committees and the clerks of the
National Assembly for according me this opportunity to appear before you today as
the President’s nominee to be the third Inspector General of the National Police
Service. Our gathering today, is an important constitional exercise which
recognizes the important oversight role these joint committees play over the
National Police Service.

I am Hilary Nzioki Mutyambai, currently Deputy Director Counter Terrorism

Coordination Division within the National Intelligence Service.

This nomination is indeed a great honor and priviledge and I want to thank his
Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta for the confidence and trust he has placed in
me.

Honorable members, l would never in my wildest imagination thought it possible

that l will be sitting before a parliamentary committee for vetting for the position
of Inspector General, it shows me that merit, hardwork and integrity still have a
place in this country.

Allow me, Hon Chairmen! to thank my wife Dr.Susan Nzioki who has been a real
pillar in my life, for her unwavering support over the last 29 years. I owe her a
debt of gratitude. To our grown up children; their encouragement not only since
this nomination was made, but also over the years as we watched them grow up,
has served as a key motivation for me to be a better human being who totally lives
out the values we inculcated in them as we raised them.

Honourable Co-Chairs and members of both committees, I have served in the

security sector for 27 years and in order to get to know me better, please allow me
to give you a little background of myself.

My desire to serve within the law enforcement can be traced from my childhood
and the experiences l underwent. I was born in1964 in Machakos, and my late
father worked as an electrician at the East African Portland Cement company in
Athi-River and my mother was a teacher. I’m blessed to have her watching me this
morning and l want to thank her for the unconditional love she continues to show
me.

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I’am the firstborn in a family of four, which was to later increase when my father
married my step-mother and due to various circumstances l was eventually taken
to the village and raised by my grandfather who was a man of unparalled wisdom
respected by many and his manner of dealing with family members especially his
own children taught me the importance of Justice and fairness in maintaining
harmony and co-existence.

Being raised by persons from two different generations was and interesting
experience and l learnt early on to be a diplomat who could shuttle between all
parties and seek agreement on issues. This quality would later serve me well,
when l worked as a diplomat at the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda.

My grandfather was not only wise but he also instilled the values of integrity, hard-
work and Selflessness, values which have continued to guide my life.

Allow me to mention and thank some other key influences in my life Father
O’toole and Father Mc Mahon priests who encouraged me greatly during by brief
stay at the Seminary.

I began my schooling at the St. Paul Primary school Athi River and Kithangaini
Primary school Masii in Machakos and proceeded Pope Paul VI Junior Seminary for
my O-levels and thereafter Kericho High School for my A-levels.

In 1987 I made my family proud by becoming the first person from my village to be
admitted in the University of Nairobi. Upon graduation in 1990 with a Bachelor of
Science in Agriculture, I served as a teacher for a year before joining the then
Kenya Police Force as a constable in 1991.

Honorable Co-Chairs and Members, my desire to join the then Police Force was as
a result of the cases of insecurity l had witnessed and my burning desire for Justice
for all which l felt would be best served within the Police.

I continued with my service in the police force and rose through the ranks. I was
promoted to Inspector of Police in 1993, Chief Inspector of police in 1995 and
Superintendent of Police in 1998. In 1999 I transited to the Intelligence, where l
rose through the ranks to my current position as the Deputy Director in charge of
Counter terrorism.

Hon. Members I make mention of my career as a Policeman because these

experiences shaped my understanding of what the police constable on the beat
and the commander at the stations go through, but more fundamentally it
illuminated my understanding of the opportunities and gaps that exist and which
will be an asset should this house confirm me.

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Hon Co-Chair and Members, I’m aware the highest objectives of the National Police
Service as enshrined in the Constitution if you allow me to quote is to;
- Strive for the highest standards of professionalism and discipline among its
members;
- Prevent corruption and promote and practice transparency and
accountability;
- Comply with constitutional standards of human rights and fundamental
freedoms;
- Train staff to the highest possible standards of competence and integrity
and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and dignity; and
- foster and promote relationships with the broader society.

These noble objectives are reflected in the hopes of many citizens of all walks of
life who have sent me messages of goodwill and offered wise words of Counsel.
Should this joint Committee confirm me; l pledge that l will always remember to
uphold these constitutional ideals as l serve as the Inspector General.

Over the past 27 years honourable members l have served this country in various
capacities within the Security Sector an honour and privilege that has accorded me
the Administrative and Operational insights of which l believe will be useful in the
office of the Inspector General of the National Police Service.

My most recent professional arena of service within the National Intelligence

Service has allowed me the vantage point to see the existing security threats our
nation faces and should you confirm me, l recognize that my role will be greatly
broadened from not only offering advisory to the multi-agency stakeholders, but to
enforcement of the law in a fair and impartial manner.

I have seen what a failure to adherence to the law can lead to and if fortunate
to be confirmed by this joint committee I want to affirm that the National Police
Service under my leadership, must always, l repeat always; be faithful to the rule
of law and l want to make it very clear that l am deeply committed to the rule of
law, especially on Human rights as enshrined in the constitution and every decision
shall be guided by this fundamental commitment.

My transition to the Intelligence community and my subsequent service within

various operational and administrative positions and my close working relations
with Multi-Agency stakeholders has given me a broader understanding of our
security sector. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the threats
we currently face among them Organized crime, Terrorism, Corruption,
Transnational crimes, cattle rustling and criminal gangs.

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Honorable Members if this joint committee confirms me as the Inspector General, l

will bring with me the knowledge and experience needed to spearhead the
National Police Service in mitigating these threats.

l have a very specific set of key issues l want to focus on that touch on the
Administrative and Operational components of the National Police Service;

First l must congratulate my predecessor for very ably leading the National Police
Service Transformation Journey, under his leadership the team has set in motion
the process of reforms. I’m aware many of the reform plans have been carried out
including the harmonization and intergration of Kenya Police Service and the
Adminstration Police Service under one command structure right from the regions,
counties and subcounties.

I will offer continutity of the reforms upto the Police/Ward station level,
Implementation of the National Police Service information management system
which digitizes the Occurrence book and the Case File Management System.

Secondly under the theme of “Enhancing Police Service Delivery at the Grassroots”
l will be keen to transform each police station into a “Centre of Delivery for
Policing Services” I will call for your participation honorable members in building
of new police stations and renovating the old police stations to meet Modern
Policing Standards and improve the working conditions of our officers. I will
endeavour to establish a National Police Academy to inculcate responsible
leadership within cadets of the National Police Service as envisaged in the reforms.
I will enhance Civil-Police relations and adapt international best practices.

I also want to focus on the welfare of the men and women serving in the police
service by making sure that the National Police service referral hospital is
constructed and operational.
I intend to engage with the Salaries and Renumeration commission on the issue of
House allowances and in view of the tough and sometimes traumatic nature of
police work,l want to expand the Psycho-Social support department and
decentralise it to all regions. I would want to enhance the Police Chaplaincy
services and last but not least to support the educational efforts of the children of
police officers l want to engage with the commission and other stakeholders to
increase and improve the school academies.

My experience in the Multi-Agency approach in the war against terror has proved
that Multi-Agency Collaboration is the way to go in managing emerging security
threats. If this joint committee confirms my nomination I will enhance the
approach bringing on board relevant goverment agencies, civil society,Members of
the public and leaders.

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Thirdly, we are aware that corruption threatens the very existence of our society
and we must all join together in the fight against corruption. On my part, l intend
to do this by initiating a system that enhances accountability and responsibility
within the National Police Service and the overall Kenyan society through enforcing
laws in a non-partisan and highly responsive manner. I will work closely relevant
government agencies and stakeholders to achieve synergy in the war against
corruption.

Honourable members, I have the experience, knowledge and key associations

which l have formed with a diverse pool of critical stakeholders within and outside
the criminal justice system which will be crucial as l lead the National Police
Service at this point if l’m fortunate enough to be confirmed by this committee.

My understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Kenyans gained from

deployments in different regions,the knowledge on Security Policy issues gained
during my post graduate studies in National Security Policy from the Australian
National University give me an advantage when it comes to advising on security
policy issues.

Honourable Members, it is a distinct honour to appear before this honourable joint

committee today. l appreciate the time and importance, you have dedicated to
this vetting process and l look forward to having dialogue this morning. I look
forward to answering your questions, not just today, but should this committee so
confirm me, in the months and years ahead as we work together to ensure the
protection and security of our citizens is guaranteed.

Thank you.