Nairobi — The man in charge of President Mwai Kibaki's security has been replaced in a reshuffle of top police officers.

Mr Benson Kibui, who was the head of presidential escort, the President's bodyguard, has been on the job since 2005 when he took over from the current Commissioner of Police, Mr Mathew Iteere.

Mr Kibui has been replaced with his deputy, Mr Kitili Mwendwa. He has been deployed to Western as the provincial police boss, replacing Mr King'ori Mwangi, who has been posted to police headquarters as deputy director of police reforms.

Appointments of county police bosses in accordance with the new Constitution will follow, Mr Iteere said.

Questions were raised early this month when Mr Kibui was excluded from a presidential delegation to the Comesa summit in Swaziland.

At the time, there was speculation he may have fallen foul of some members of the first family after the President attended Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula's daughter wedding in Nairobi.

The changes followed a three-day meeting of Kenya's top five policemen, headed by Mr Iteere. Those who attended were CID chief Ndegwa Muhoro, Kenya Police College Commandant Peter Kavila, the commissioner's principal deputy Francis Okonya and GSU boss William Saiya.

The four are equal in rank, that of Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police 1. Mr Iteere said: "Comprehensive reorganisation will be made once the counties are operational in conformity with the Constitution."

The Nation learnt that the meeting had resolved to appoint county police chiefs, but the idea was shelved after the Treasury said funds were not available.

In the meantime, Mr Iteere either promoted or reshuffled senior officers, appointing them to positions under the existing provinces and districts.

Mr John Mwachai, who was until Wednesday Nairobi's CID boss, was promoted to deputy director of the CID. He replaces Mr Peter Eregae, whose fate remains unknown because he was not in the list of 143 officers affected.

An officer privy to the deliberations but who could not be named as he is not authorised to give details to the media said Mr Eregai is expected to be deployed to the Internal Security ministry. City's new CID boss is Mr Peter Muinde from the Police Training College in Kiganjo.

The forensic unit at the CID is to be headed by Mr Maurice Amatta, who was the Commandant of the CID Training School in South B, Nairobi.

The new Commandant of the CID School is Mr Gideon Kimilu. These are the first major changes made since Mr Iteere took office last year.

Other provincial CID commanders affected were Mr Joseph Mugwanja, who moved from Western to Nyanza, and Mr Samuel Nyabengi from Rift Valley to Eastern.

Ms Lillian Kiamba will head CID in Western, moving from Eastern. Mr Sebastian Ndaru, formerly the Nyanza CID boss, is the new head of the complaints section at the CID headquarters, taking over from Mr Aggrey Adoli.

Mr Adoli is the new North Eastern PPO. He has also served as the traffic commandant in the past. He replaces Mr Abdul Mzee who retired.

Elite units of the police were also affected with Mr Munga Nyale being posted to command the Flying Squad. He previously headed the Highway Patrol Unit. He has been replaced with Mr Charles Keitany, from the GSU's Q Company.

Mr Mohammed Amin is now in charge of investigations at the CID, having been moved from the Banking Fraud Investigations unit and replaced by his deputy, Mr Gabriel Mbuvi.

The Railway Police Unit is now under Mr Kirimi Ringera, who has been on an acting commander.