Inside New Bill to Restructure Appointment of Police IG and DIGs

A bill seeking to introduce an age limit and term limits in the appointment of the Inspector General (IG) of Police and the Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) has been introduced to the National Assembly.
Primary to this bill is that all persons nominated and appointed to the offices of IG and DIG of police be less than 60 years old at the time of their nomination.
The National Police Service (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 39 of 2025) seeks to amend the National Police Service Act. Cap. 84 by also introducing a term limit for DIGs, as they are exempt from mandatory retirement at 60.
The new changes are expected to ensure that the appointees can handle demanding situations within the police service and to help balance between the need to retain experienced leadership and allow for succession planning within the Service.
To actualise these changes, the bill seeks to delete or replace several Sections of the National Police Service Act. Cap. 84,which outlines the qualifications of an IG or a DIG, to add new provisions.
“Clause 4 provides for the insertion of new Sections 11A and 11B in the National Police Service Act to provide for the appointment of the Deputy Inspector-General, include a one-term limit of five years for Deputy Inspectors-General, provide for the qualification and disqualification for appointment as Deputy Inspector-General and disqualify from appointment persons who have attained the age of sixty years at the time of appointment,” part of the bill reads.
Currently, DIGs do not have a term limit like IGs, who can only serve a single non-renewable term of four years.
However, Article 245 of the Constitution specifies that the IG is appointed for a single four-year term and is not eligible for re-appointment.
The amendment, targeting DIGs, has been proposed since they are exempt from the mandatory retirement at 60, like other public servants.
The enactment of the bill will not occasion additional expenditure of public funds.
At the time of his appointment in September 2024, IG Douglas Kanja was 61 years old. The current Administration Police Service DIG Gilbert Masengeli is 55. While the age of the current Kenya Police Service DIG Eliud Lagat is publicly unavailable, some reports, however, indicate he is 53.
Kanja’s age has previously been a topic of contention, especially immediately after his appointment. He replaced IG Japhet Koome, who resigned onJuly 12, 2024, following the Gen Z protests.
Koome had also been 60 at the time of his appointment in 2022.