High Court suspends nationwide police recruitment over fresh legal challenge

A past National Police Service recruitment exercise. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, November 10, 2025

The recruitment exercise, initially planned for November 17, 2025, was to be conducted across 422 centres nationwide.

The High Court has temporarily suspended the National Police Service’s (NPS) recruitment of 10,000 police constables and officers, following a petition filed by human rights activist Eliud Matindi challenging the exercise.

The ruling comes just days before the exercise was scheduled to commence nationwide.

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Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued conservatory orders on Monday, November 10, 2025, directing that the recruitment notice issued by the Inspector General of Police on November 4 be put on hold until the matter is fully determined in court.

The orders apply to the respondents and interested parties, including all employees, agents and related bodies involved in the recruitment process.

The court directed that the petitioner serve the application, petition, and court order to the respondents and interested parties immediately and file proof of service by close of business on November 12. The respondents must submit their responses by December 11, while the petitioner may file a rejoinder by January 9, 2026.

A mention is scheduled for January 22 to confirm compliance and discuss the expedited hearing of the application.

“This conservatory order suspends the recruitment exercise and prevents any further action on it pending the inter partes hearing,” reads the ruling.

The recruitment exercise, initially planned for November 17, 2025, was to be conducted across 422 centres nationwide, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Applicants must be Kenyan citizens aged between 18 and 28, with a valid national ID and at least a D+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), including English or Kiswahili. Male candidates must be at least 1.7 meters tall, while female candidates must be 1.6 meters or taller and not pregnant during recruitment or training. Applicants must also be physically and mentally fit, with no criminal record or pending charges.

Inspector General Douglas Kanja noted that National Youth Service (NYS) graduates meeting the criteria are encouraged to apply, with preference for those rated “Good” in conduct.

All candidates must submit original and photocopies of academic certificates, ID, birth certificate, and NYS discharge certificate, where applicable.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had warned Kenyans against attempting to bribe officials, stressing that the government will enforce strict transparency.

“Those carrying money to bribe during the recruitment exercise will be arrested. We want local communities to come out as observers and report any corruption,” he said during a church service in Bomet County.

Murkomen further said the government intends to complete the recruitment process in a single day to prevent post-verification interference, aiming to announce successful applicants by 5:00 pm.

The recruitment is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s policing capacity across the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service, and Directorate of Criminal Investigations.