THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Wilson Boinett: Military man who turned around NIS

Retired Brigadier Wilson Boinett is remembered as the man who transformed the National Security Intelligence Services to what it is now after he was appointed to head the agency in 1999. FILE PHOTO |

Retired Brigadier Wilson Boinett is remembered as the man who transformed the National Security Intelligence Services to what it is now after he was appointed to head the agency in 1999. FILE PHOTO |   NATION MEDIA GROUP.

In Summary

  • Initially, it was a department of the Kenya Police commonly known as the Special Branch. It was created in 1952 by the British Colonial administration to provide intelligence during the Mau Mau uprising.
  • He is credited with turning the institution from one known for torturing people who politically differed with President Daniel Moi to a professional outfit.
By MUCHEMI WACHIRA
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Retired Brigadier Wilson Boinett is remembered as the man who transformed the National Security Intelligence Services to what it is now after he was appointed to head the agency in 1999.

Initially, it was a department of the Kenya Police commonly known as the Special Branch. It was created in 1952 by the British Colonial administration to provide intelligence during the Mau Mau uprising.

However, Parliament passed a new act that replaced the Special Branch with NSIS in 1998. Brig (Rtd) Boinett was the first NSIS boss. It is now the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Before his appointment, he was working with military intelligence. He had joined the Kenya Army in the 1970s and rose through the ranks to become a brigadier. 
The former spy chief, who also attended the University of Nairobi's School of Journalism, is described as an intelligent person.

He is credited with turning the institution from one known for torturing people who politically differed with President Daniel Moi to a professional outfit.

Brig (Rtd) Boinett hails from Timboroa, at the border of Baringo and Nandi counties. It is during his tenure that the National Counter-Terrorism Centre was established.

He is the proprietor of the famous Poa Place Resort in Eldoret Town, which is frequented by bigwigs from both Kenya and Uganda.