Tempers flared in the National Assembly on Thursday as Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah demanded the Ministry of Interior present the official, unedited list of Officers Commanding Station (OCS) across Nairobi County.
The demand follows viral social media reports alleging an ethnic imbalance in police deployments across the capital, with claims that a dominant majority of stations are headed by officers from a single ethnic background.
Addressing a charged parliamentary session, Ichung’wah stressed that public service appointments must reflect Kenya’s regional and ethnic diversity as mandated by the Constitution. He warned against allowing unverified rumors to fuel ethnic tensions while insisting state agencies uphold transparency and fair labor distribution.
The Kikuyu MP directed the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to urgently summon top security officials and procure the authentic deployment roster, including full names, ranks, and posting dates of all Nairobi-based station commanders.
Several lawmakers from across the political divide echoed concerns, urging the National Police Service Commission and Inspector General to clarify criteria used in regional postings.
However, security analysts caution against politicizing operational transfers, with senior officers maintaining that command appointments are strictly guided by merit, operational experience, and administrative needs.
The debate renews focus on police reform and constitutional diversity standards under Article 232.