Court temporarily suspends police recruitment, CS Murkomen insists process will proceed

The High Court has issued an order suspending the much-anticipated National Police Service (NPS) recruitment exercise, which was due to start on October 3, 2025.

However, speaking at the School of Government in Nairobi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said he is aware of the court directive, but insisted the exercise would go ahead as planned.

“There is a shortage of police officers in many parts of the country, as raised during Jukwaa la Usalama. Initially, we planned to recruit 3,500 officers, but after consultations with His Excellency, the President and the Treasury, it was agreed that 10,000 officers would be hired. Recruitment begins tomorrow. I am aware that a court order has temporarily halted the process, but I believe the matter will be resolved quickly,” said Murkomen.

“The recruitment is critical for national security, investor confidence, and border safety, especially since many officers have retired or passed on. We must also ensure new officers are trained in time to support the upcoming elections. I am aware that there was a legal process in court and one of the judges has given an order to stop the recruitment,” he added.

The Cabinet Secretary stressed the importance of recruiting police officers, noting that the delay has left a gap in the NPS for the past four years.

“I wish I could be allowed to call the judge directly to understand the consequences of a court order to the recruitment of police officers that has never happened for the last four years. It is critical for national security to recruit those police officers urgently, not for anything else, but to secure our borders. I trust the Judiciary will apply reason and allow the process to proceed, given how vital it is for the safety of our country,” said the CS.

Murkomen also highlighted the need to replace officers who have died since the last recruitment exercise.

He stressed that timely recruitment is essential not only for national security but also to ensure a well-prepared police force ahead of the 2027 general elections

The recruitment exercise had been announced to resume after a four-year hiatus, which has contributed to a shortage of police officers. Internal disagreements over selection criteria had threatened to delay the process, but intervention by top political leaders ensured the exercise would proceed under the traditional panel system.

Earlier, Kenyans had been warned against engaging in corruption during the upcoming national police recruitment exercise, with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja cautioning that both givers and takers of bribes will face serious consequences.

The seven-day recruitment for 10,000 police constables was set to run from October 3 to October 9, 2025, across 416 centres nationwide.

Kenyans have been warned against engaging in corruption during the upcoming national police recruitment exercise, with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja cautioning that both givers and takers of bribes will face serious consequences.

The seven-day recruitment for 10,000 police constables is set to run from October 3 to October 9, 2025, across 416 centres nationwide.

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