Murkomen Announces New Changes in Police Promotions
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced major changes to the National Police Service (NPS) promotion system, reducing the automatic promotion age by three years for long-serving officers.
Speaking during a public event on Thursday, August 7, Murkomen revealed that the NPS Promotion Board had earlier this week made a decision to lower the promotion age from 53 to 50 for officers who have served for many years.
According to Murkomen, this new rule means that police officers who have served as constables, corporals, or sergeants for more than 15 years and are now aged 50 or older will qualify for automatic promotion.
Similarly, inspectors who have served in their position for more than 10 years and have reached the age of 50 will also be promoted without having to wait any longer.
“The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, had earlier stated that officers who have served long as corporals would only be promoted automatically at age 53.
But this has now changed,” Murkomen explained. “The promotion board met this week and agreed that officers aged 50 and above who have served more than 15 years as constables, corporals, or sergeants will now be promoted automatically.
For inspectors, once they have served in the same rank for 10 years and have reached age 50, they too will be eligible for automatic promotion,” he added.
Murkomen also mentioned that the police service is working on new strategies to speed up the transfer of officers. He noted that the NPS is considering adjustments to the current policy to ensure police officers are transferred more frequently and within shorter timelines.
Currently, an officer must serve at least one year and not more than three years at a specific station before being considered for a transfer.
This rule was introduced to support the well-being of police officers and their families by preventing officers from being stationed in one location for too long.
This latest announcement follows another update by the Interior CS just two weeks ago, where he confirmed that the government had started implementing the second phase of a 10% salary increase for police officers.
Speaking in Nandi County on Thursday, July 24, Murkomen said the increase in salaries was aligned with the government’s financial plans for the 2025/2026 fiscal year and followed the recommendations of the police reform task force.
He urged all members of the security services to remain patient and calm as the salary adjustment is gradually implemented.
Murkomen explained that the government had already given a 10% salary increase the previous year for lower-ranking officers, and now the same will be done again this year as part of the second phase.
“We already increased salaries for lower-level officers by 10% last year. This year, there will be another 10% increase,” he assured.
“We just entered a new financial year, and funds are still being released by the exchequer. So, there is no need to panic. The implementation is underway. If any problems arise, the National Police Service Commission has the authority to ensure it is handled properly,” Murkomen concluded.
These developments are part of the government’s broader efforts to improve the working conditions, motivation, and welfare of police officers in the country.
Follow Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30