High Court clears path for recruitment of 10,000 police officers after petition withdrawn
The case was withdrawn after petitioners told the court they had received more than 20,000 calls and messages from young people urging them not to derail the recruitment.
The High Court has allowed a petition seeking to halt the recruitment of 10,000 police officers to be withdrawn, clearing the way for the National Police Service to proceed with its nationwide exercise.
The case was withdrawn after petitioners told the court they had received more than 20,000 calls and messages from young people urging them not to derail the recruitment.
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The petition, filed earlier this month by civil society group Sheria Mtaani, had challenged the fairness and legality of the exercise. But during Tuesday’s session at the Milimani High Court, lawyers Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wambui, representing the petitioners, applied to withdraw the case entirely.
“Many young people had already travelled to recruitment centres using limited resources,” the petitioners said, arguing that blocking the exercise would not serve the public interest.
They added that halting the recruitment would frustrate thousands of applicants keen to join the police service, especially with the 2027 General Election approaching. They also cited pressing staff shortages caused by retirements and international deployments such as the Haiti mission.
“Having considered the guidance of our principal, and to allow the recruitment of 10,000 youth scheduled for tomorrow, while also mindful of the upcoming 2027 General Election, the shortage of police officers and international assignments such as Haiti, the petitioner has applied to withdraw the applications dated August 11, 2025, and September 9, 2025, in their entirety,” the petitioners told the court.
Lawyer Paul Mjamodi, representing Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, confirmed that he had no objections to the withdrawal. Other parties in the case also expressed no opposition.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi, while delivering his ruling, stated: “I find no reason to deny the application for withdrawal. The matter is hereby withdrawn with no orders as to costs.”
Sheria Mtaani, through lawyers Omari, Wambui, and Cliff Ombeta, had initially sought to suspend the recruitment, raising constitutional questions over the roles of the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). The Attorney General opposed the petition, warning that halting the exercise could disrupt the police command structure and undermine the Inspector General’s mandate.
With the withdrawal approved, the NPS can now proceed with the recruitment of 10,000 police constables under the new 2025 regulations aimed at promoting transparency and curbing corruption. For the first time in Kenya’s history, the exercise will be conducted entirely online, with applicants required to submit their details virtually.
Of the 10,000 slots, 4,000 have been reserved for National Youth Service (NYS) graduates.
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