High Court clears NPS: 10,000 constable recruitment set for Monday

Kenya’s eagerly awaited police recruitment drive is set to go ahead on Monday, after the High Court removed a brief halt and gave the National Police Service (NPS) the green light to carry out the exercise.

On Friday, Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja announced that the one-day event will take place at 427 centres nationwide.

“All arrangements are in place, and every county has been fully informed,” Kanja stated.

“We anticipate a seamless, open and well-run operation from 8am until 5pm.”

The NPS aims to bring on board 10,000 fresh constables, a step it regards as essential for bolstering its ranks and advancing current positive reforms in the police service.

Earlier in the week, progress had stalled when a petitioner, one Eliud Matindi, lodged a legal challenge over whether the IG possessed the constitutional power to launch the exercise.

On November 10, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a temporary stoppage while the matter was examined.

But on Friday, the court lifted the restriction, clearing the path forward.

NPS in a statement to newsrooms described the recruitment exercise as part of a broader push to modernise and reform policing.

NPS spokesman Muchiri Nyaga said that “the successful young men and women will form a new cohort of officers expected to drive the positive and reformist agenda currently underway in the Service.”

A firm caution has been issued against bribery, a perennial worry in such exercises. 

Insiders say the one-day exercise will help curb the bribery menace.

IG Kanja said he is aware that in the previous exercises, bribery was at the peak.

“I warn all the officers who will conduct the exercise that any corruption allegations will be investigated and appropriate action taken against the culprits,” IG Kanja said. 

Supervising officers have been told that any solicitation, receipt or enabling of bribes will trigger swift disciplinary and criminal measures.