This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has about two months to appoint a new spy chief, subject to approval from the National Assembly, as the five-year term of National Intelligence Service director-general Major Gen (Rtd) Philip Kameru is set to end this month.
Since his appointment in 2014, Kameru has been credited with greatly influencing the new policy direction taken in the national security and the government's war against corruption.
Under his reign, the spy agency has been instrumental in the ongoing graft purge, which two weeks ago fell former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
Further, Kameru was the man behind the scenes in the raid at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in which dozens of employees were arrested for engaging in malpractices.
According to the National Intelligence Service Act, 2012; “The Director-General shall hold office for a term of five years and may be eligible for reappointment for one further term.”
Senior government, military and security officials who spoke to the Sunday Nation on condition of anonymity hinted that President Kenyatta is likely to give the trusted spy man another five-year term.
Mr Kameru has previously served with General Karangi and the current Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Samsom Mwathethe and former police bosses Mr Kimaiyo and Joseph Boinnet as well as the current Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, whose appointment he is said to have influenced.
