Kenya boasts herself as one of the countries in Africa whose National Intelligence Service is ranked among the top. With such a top ranked National Intelligence Service institution, appointment to the institution ought to be based on meritocracy to sustain its competitiveness and to ensure the National Security of Kenya is not compromised. President William Ruto was well informed of the need of professionalism at the helm of National Intelligence Service while appointing Nordin Haji for the position of NIS Director General.
Haji is a career civil servant and has built his career overtime having previously worked with National Intelligence Service before being appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions by the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta. His appointment as the Director General of NIS takes him back to the institution where he was working before 2018 as the Deputy Director General of Counter Intelligence.
Early Life, Education and Family Life of Nordin Haji
Nordin Haji was born in July 1973. Being the son of a public administrator turned politician, Haji was able to attend the best schools in the world.
His father, the Late Yusuf Haji, was a provincial administrator in the 70s and 80s. At one point he was appointed as the Minister for Defence and also as an acting Minister for Internal Security in 2000.
At the time of his death, Yusuf Haji was the senator of Garissa County and was succeeded by his son Abdul Haji who defended his seat in 2022 general election on a Jubilee Party and won.
After Primary School Education, Haji joined Kabarak High School for his secondary School education and then transitioned to Greensteds International School based in Nakuru.
He also obtained LLM and LLB from the University of Wales and Cardiff. Additionally, he has a Master’s Degree in National Security Policy from Australian National University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
On family matters, Haji is a family man with a wife and children. He however keeps his family matters close to the heart and not so much is publicly known about his family life.
Haji Career
Haji got his first job was in 2000 when he was employed by the Public Service as a State Counsel at the Attorney General Office. Haji built his career for many years at the Attorney General Office where he worked for many years rose to the rank of the Deputy Director General of National Intelligence Service until 2018 when he was appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions.
His recent appointment by President Ruto as the Director General takes him back to the institution where he built his career. He will be taking over from Philip Kameru whose tenure at the helm of the intelligence body has come to an end.
