Kenyans warned against fake police recruitment adverts as NPSC pledges transparent exercise

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has disputed claims that it has advertised vacancies for police constables, terming a notice circulating on social media as fake.

In a statement on Tuesday, NPSC Chairperson Amani Yuda Komora said preparations for a genuine recruitment drive are still underway and will be announced formally.

He urged the public to ignore the fraudulent notice, which directed applicants to an unauthorised online link. Komora noted that any official communication on recruitment will only be made through the Commission’s official website, verified social media accounts and mainstream media outlets.

“The Commission advises members of the public to remain vigilant and disregard any misinformation intended to mislead and exploit unsuspecting applicants,” Komora said.

Speaking before the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, NPSC Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley assured MPs that this year’s recruitment would be fair, transparent and free from corruption. He said the Commission had strengthened its systems to ensure accountability and inclusivity.

“We have independent observers to ensure compliance and avoid malpractices. We are also leveraging digital tools for applications and candidate verification to minimise human errors, while ensuring gender balance, regional equity, and ethnic diversity,” Leley said.

He added that the exercise would prioritise affirmative action to provide opportunities to marginalised and underrepresented communities.

“The recruitment is in search of underrepresented and marginalised communities to promote inclusivity in a bid to strengthen the formula and legitimacy,” he said.

The Commission is planning to recruit 10,000 police constables under new guidelines designed to improve credibility after previous exercises faced criticism over bribery, favouritism, and bias. For the first time, all applications will be submitted online, with 4,000 slots reserved for National Youth Service (NYS) graduates.

However, efforts to coordinate the exercise with the National Police Service (NPS) have encountered challenges, as the two entities disagreed over who should conduct the recruitment and the mode to be used. The advertisement was scheduled for September 11, with recruits expected to report to training colleges on November 17. While NPSC insists the process should be digital, the NPS favours a manual approach.

Leley highlighted funding constraints as a major hurdle, revealing that the Commission has received only Sh75 million against a required Sh395 million.

“The budget for recruitment was directly allocated to the NPS, confirmed by the National Treasury. This shortfall and misallocation severely undermine the Commission’s ability to independently and effectively discharge its recruitment mandate,” he said.

Inspector General Douglas Kanja sought to downplay any notion of conflict, assuring the public that both entities are committed to cooperating.

“First of all, let me assure the country that the NPS and NPSC work together. Very soon we are going to carry out the recruitment. Once we agree, we will release the dates and roadmap,” he said.

Leley also pointed to challenges stemming from the delegation of recruitment and appointment powers to the Inspector General under Section 10(2) of the NPSC Act, noting that past delegations had been prone to abuse and irregularities.

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“The National Taskforce on the Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service highlighted that improper delegation amounted to abdication of the Commission’s constitutional mandate,” he said.

Komora called for a collaborative approach, urging both parties to resolve outstanding issues amicably for the benefit of the public.