By Prudence Minayo
Commissioner of Police attached to the General Service Unit (GSU) Joyce Musonga is a living testimony that today is not a reflection of your future. She is among the women across the country achieving phenomenal success in positions once dominated by male gender.
She joins the likes of Eunice Dobby, a police commissioner who made history by becoming the first fully rated Kenyan female pilot in the police service gaining international acclaim.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
Education and Career
Joyce Musonga attended Ivakale Primary School before joining Tigoi Girls High School. She has a certificate in Early Childhood Development from Kakamega Multipurpose Training College and a Diploma in Counseling Psychology from Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development.
Her thirst for professional knowledge saw her pursue extensive local and international training including:
- Senior Management Course at Kenya School of Government
- Mental Health Awareness Training conducted by Chiromo Group of Hospitals
- Women Leadership for Peace and Security.
- Demobilization and Reintegration Course.
- An advanced course on Child Rights at the International Peace Support Training Center (IPSTC) in Kenya
- Integrated Crisis Management Course at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Kenya.
- Supervisory Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Botswana
- A capacity building course in Carabinieri General Headquarters in Italy
She has also taken part in the international women in law enforcement conference in Queensland, Australia.
Early Career
Joyce Musonga began her career working as a Kindergarten teacher tasked with the tedious but rewarding job of tutoring children at the General Service Unit pre-school. She worked extremely hard and became the head teacher at the pre-primary school.
Not one to let opportunities slide, Musonga became a pioneer cohort of new recruits when the chance presented itself. This was an opportunity for her to serve her country beyond the classroom. Getting through the recruitment was just the beginning of a tough journey that would take months. What followed was intense training in the country’s toughest police training colleges, the National Police College- Embakasi “B” Campus, previously referred to as GSU Training School.
Also Read: Most Educated Police Officers In Kenya
Working as a police
The police civilian staff turned police officer worked in a number of positions as a corporal, then became Sargent, Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent, and senior superintendent of police.
She was Staffing Officer Administration III, followed by Staffing Officer Administration II and finally Staffing Officer Administration I. She was then appointed to the role of a staffing officer Gender and welfare at the General Service Unit Headquarters.
Recognition
Madam Musonga dedicated time to offer psychological support to police officers and their families She is also a transformative leader who is committed to developing strategies that improves the welfare of GSU officers so as to enhance service delivery.
It is no surprise, therefore, that her service to the nation has not gone unnoticed. She was conferred with the Head of State Commendation (HSC).
The National Police Service also credits her for being an inspiration to fellow officers, and a role model to other young female officers.
