The government is expected to announce the official date for the long-awaited mass police recruitment on Monday, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty and disputes between the National Police Service (NPS) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the OCS’s Consultative Conference at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong on Thursday, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that a final decision will be communicated early next week.
“By Monday, we should know the exact day when the recruitment will be conducted,” Murkomen stated, assuring Kenyans that the matter was now at its final stage of resolution.
Ruto’s Earlier Directive
The update comes after President William Ruto announced in August that the government would recruit 10,000 police officers in September to strengthen security operations across the country.
During the National Youth Service (NYS) passing-out parade in Gilgil, Nakuru, on August 28, Ruto emphasized that 4,000 of the new recruits must come from the NYS.
“I have already instructed the Ministry of Interior that next month (September), when we recruit 10,000 police officers, 4,000 must come from the National Youth Service,” the President said.
However, since that declaration, there has been no official confirmation of the specific recruitment date, causing confusion among thousands of hopeful applicants.
A Freeze and a Shortage of Officers
The upcoming exercise is the first major police recruitment since 2022 when the Kenya Kwanza government assumed office and temporarily froze hiring.
The freeze has created a shortage in the service, as the NPSC revealed that more than 10,000 officers have exited in recent years through retirement, resignations, and other causes.
Although the government recognized the urgent need to fill the gap, financial constraints slowed down the process. In July this year, Murkomen indicated that the recruitment would take place during the 2025–2026 financial year, with expectations that it would begin within a month or two.
Disputes Over HR Authority
One of the key issues delaying the recruitment has been the long-standing conflict between the National Police Service and the National Police Service Commission over who has the final say on human resource functions, especially on recruitment.
According to the NPS, the Inspector General of Police should oversee recruitment as part of his leadership role. On the other hand, the Commission insists that the Constitution gives it full control over all HR functions in the police service.
This tension deepened in early August when NPSC CEO Peter Leley issued a letter revoking all HR powers previously delegated to Inspector General Douglas Kanja and his deputies.
The letter, which was copied to several oversight agencies, cited legal precedents and the Commission’s constitutional mandate as the basis for reclaiming authority.
Debate Over Recruitment Method
The Commission had proposed introducing a fully digital recruitment system to make the process more transparent and reduce cases of corruption.
Under this system, applicants would apply online, be shortlisted electronically, and only later attend physical assessment and training sessions.
But Inspector General Kanja and senior uniformed officers strongly opposed the move, warning that the system could be easily manipulated behind the scenes. They also questioned the practicality of the plan, arguing that the system was not ready and lacked proper funding.
This disagreement came despite the Treasury allocating Ksh2.9 billion for the exercise, while the NPS had requested Ksh6.9 billion to run the program effectively.
Ruto Steps In
As the standoff continued, reports indicated that the National Security Council, chaired by President Ruto, intervened and advised that the country should revert to the traditional physical recruitment model. This recommendation paved the way for the government to proceed with the exercise without further delays.
With this intervention, all signs now point to a green light for the long-awaited recruitment, and thousands of young Kenyans across the country are eagerly waiting for Monday’s announcement.
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