Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti has been picked as the new delegate for Africa at Interpol, with Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates taking over as president
Dr Al-Raisi will lead the organisation for four years, taking over from Korea’s Kim Jong Yang, while Mr Kinoti begins his three-year term in the ongoing 89th general assembly of Interpol taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.
Mr Kinoti will represent Africa at the key security organ that brings together over 195 member states.
His election was seen as an endorsement of the strategies that Kenya has adopted in managing crime, especially in counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and transnational crimes, as well as a vote of confidence in the DCI on the global stage.
Successes
“The realisation that we cannot fight this monster alone has contributed to the successes that we have registered so far across the world as a result of cooperation and information sharing between our different counties and security agencies,” Mr Kinoti said in his acceptance speech.
Kenya is a member state of Interpol and hosts the East and Central Africa region’s bureau at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation’s complex on Kiambu Road in Nairobi.
Interpol coordinates policing efforts to make the world a safer place.
Dr Al-Raisi, accepting his new position, said the vote reflected the world’s confidence in the leadership of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.
“The world’s confidence in the UAE is the fruit of the wise leadership of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, supported by his brothers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed…. Thank you for leading us on the world’s trust in the UAE,” he tweeted.
Dr Al-Raisi has held the position of inspector-general’s in the UAE ministry of interior since 2015 and has been an active member of the Interpol Executive Committee, having served as the delegate for Asia for the past three years.
Modernising Interpol structures
On his website, he says he has worked closely with Interpol’s outgoing president and secretary-general Jurgen Stock to support modernising its structures, procedures and working methods.
Dr Al-Raisi has a PhD in policing, security and community safety from London Metropolitan University, a master’s degree in innovation management from Coventry University in the UK and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, US.
Before votes were cast, Dr Al-Raisi had pledged to build a more diverse, modern and cooperative Interpol.
“It’s finally time to vote on the next Interpol President. Here in the General Assembly, this moment is the culmination of more than four decades of service, and if I am elected president of the organization, I will help build a more diverse, modern and cooperative Interpol,” he tweeted.
Reinforce global security
The three-day assembly that began on Tuesday brought together nearly 470 police chiefs, ministers and senior law enforcement officials from some 160 countries to identify areas where Interpol can reinforce the global security architecture.
The role of president is part-time and unpaid and the holder retains his full-time post in his national authority.
The president is, however, required to preside over meetings of the general assembly and the executive committee and maintain direct contact with the secretary-general, who oversees the running of the organisation’s day-to-day activities.
The president is also responsible for ensuring that Interpol’s activities conformity with the decisions of the general assembly and the executive committee.
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