Drama as Residents Disrupt Police Recruitment Exercise in Tiaty
There was intense drama in Tiaty sub-county after angry residents stormed a police recruitment exercise, accusing officials of allowing irregularities and favouring outsiders.
The tense confrontation unfolded as locals, carrying tree branches, pushed their way into the recruitment grounds to protest what they claimed was a deeply flawed process.
In videos seen by Newshub.co.ke, crowds of furious residents are captured confronting police officers, demanding that the entire exercise be stopped until their complaints were addressed.
The locals attempted to block several prospective recruits from taking part in various drills, pointing out individuals they believed were not from the community.
They loudly chanted phrases such as “It can’t go on!” and “Look, he is not from here!” creating a chaotic scene that police officers struggled to control.
The situation escalated further after a well-known lawyer alleged on social media that some non-locals had travelled to the recruitment centres carrying cash to bribe officials.
According to him, the police recruitment in Tangulbei, Chemolingot, and Kolowa sub-county headquarters had once again been compromised by individuals seeking to buy their way into the service.
He urged the National Police Service (NPS) to act swiftly, saying the integrity of the exercise must be protected and the available slots should benefit young people from the local communities. He added that the recruitment policy must be enforced without favour or external influence.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had earlier announced that the recruitment would take place in a single day—from 8am to 5pm—across all 427 centres nationwide.
This came after a court allowed the NPS to resume the exercise, which was initially announced on October 31.
Both Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had assured the public that the process would be free, fair, and transparent. However, the latest events, along with emerging reports, raised new doubts about those assurances.
Before the Tiaty incident, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had released a revealing report highlighting serious weaknesses in the police recruitment system.
The study, conducted between February 10 and June 13, uncovered widespread bribery, political interference, and outdated manual processes that continue to undermine the fairness of the recruitment of constables, cadets, specialists, and civilian staff.
According to the EACC, many recruitment exercises ignored standard procedures, used poorly advertised opportunities, applied inconsistent selection criteria, and lacked proper channels for complaints.
These loopholes, the commission warned, have created fertile ground for corruption—making it difficult for the National Police Service to attract competent and qualified officers in the long run.
The chaos in Tiaty now reflects growing frustration among many Kenyans who feel that the recruitment process has not been transparent or equally accessible, with communities demanding fairness, accountability, and genuine opportunities for their youth.
Chaos Erupts at Tiaty Sub-County Police Recruitment in Koloa as Locals Protest Inclusion of Outsiders pic.twitter.com/YADxrtkoeK
— PropesaTV (@PropesaTV) November 17, 2025
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