National Police Service begins training 10,000 new officers

The National Police Service (NPS) on Monday welcomed 10,000 newly recruited officers who reported to training institutions including the National Police College in Kiganjo and the Embakasi A and B campuses.

The recruits, announced after a nationwide enlistment exercise, are set to undergo intensive training as the service expands its capacity amid ongoing reforms.

However, the path to this recruitment has been deeply contested. In a landmark judgment on October 30, the Employment and Labour Relations Court struck down the recruitment drive, declaring that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) lacked constitutional authority to hire police officers.

Justice Hellen Wasilwa ruled that recruitment, training, assignment, and dismissal of police officers must rest with the National Police Service itself—not the NPSC.  

She also declared Legal Notice No. 159 of September 19, 2025—used to launch the recruitment—unconstitutional.

Days later, on November 10, the High Court issued a conservatory order suspending all recruitment activities, responding to a petition by activist Eliud Matindi.  

But just four days after that suspension, the same court partially lifted its halt, allowing the recruitment to go ahead temporarily while legal challenges continue.

Beyond the legal wrangling, the process has sparked serious corruption alarms. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) says it has received reports of manipulated recruitment procedures, bribery, and political interference.  

Its report, based on an investigation between February and June 2025, warns that reliance on manual systems makes the exercise vulnerable to abuse.  

The commission called for full automation of recruitment and consistent criteria across all centres to minimize corruption risks.

EACC CEO Abdi A. Mohamud strongly warned the public about cons posing as “facilitators” promising police recruitment slots in exchange for money.

The commission says such bribery undermines merit and threatens to entrench corruption in the police force from the start.

The concerns go beyond recruitment. EACC’s report also flagged systemic extortion in traffic units and at police stations, irregular transfers of officers, and “price tags” for desirable stations.  

It noted that some officers were transferred without proper approval, while others allegedly paid bribes for uniform procurement or favorable postings.

Moreover, the internal affairs unit—which is supposed to handle misconduct—was found to be severely understaffed, hampering its effectiveness.

The NPS, for its part, insists that despite the controversy, all 10,000 recruits were properly vetted and met the required standards.

In its recruitment notice, the Service reiterated that the exercise was free, merit-based, and warned against any attempts at bribery or canvassing.  

The NPS also says it is taking steps to strengthen integrity by digitising its systems—a move aimed at reducing opportunities for corruption.