Uhuru appoints KDF soldier to head new police unit

ruby orimba

November 15, 2018 12:38 PM

He had served in his previous assignment for only 4 months

President Uhuru Kenyatta during a past visit to KDF posted in Somalia

President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed a long-serving KDF serviceman to head the Kenya Coast Guard Service which he will officially launch on Monday.

According to a statement from the Interior Ministry, Brigadier Vincent Naisho Loonena will pioneer as Director General of the new police unit.

He has been picked from the Defence Forces Medical Insurance Scheme where he had served as Managing Director for only four months.

"Brigadier Vincent Naisho Loonena has made history as the first ever Director General of the Kenya Coast Guard Service following his appointment by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta today, albeit in an acting capacity," the statement read in part.

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Role of the Coast Guard

State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena confirmed the development in her press briefing on Wednesday when she gave details of the president's upcoming Coast tour.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i gazetted the Coast Guard into law on October 22, 2018 mandating the new unit to protect Kenya's waters.

Dr Matiangi's Wednesday statement outlined that Kenya would join the elite group of African states which have a specialized unit to guard it's territorial waters.

He explained that the servicemen of the Coast Guard will initially be stationed at Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu ports where they will be required to prevent dumping of harmful wastes and pollutants, aid in search and rescue services, and the arrest of illegal fishermen.

The unit's headquarters will be at Liwatoni, Mombasa County.