Nairobi — The National Police Service (NPS) has announced that it will conduct a nationwide recruitment exercise for 10,000 new police officers on November 17.
According to a notice issued by the Service, the recruitment will be carried out in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya and the National Police Service Commission Act, which governs the hiring and management of police officers.
The NPS said the exercise aims to strengthen its human resource capacity and enhance service delivery across the country.
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The Service further emphasized that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, warning members of the public against giving or receiving bribes in an attempt to secure placement.
"The National Police Service wishes to caution applicants and the general public that the recruitment exercise is free, fair, and merit-based. Any form of bribery, corruption, or canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification," the notice stated.
The announcement comes as the government continues to focus on expanding the country's security personnel to address emerging threats and improve community policing efforts.
The announcement came after the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has no constitutional authority to recruit police officers, declaring its recent recruitment exercise illegal.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa, delivering judgment in Nairobi, stated that the power to recruit, train, assign, suspend, and dismiss police officers lies exclusively with the National Police Service (NPS) -- not the NPSC or any external body.
"Recruitment by national security organs can only be done by the organ itself, not by any other entity," Justice Wasilwa ruled.
The court held that the NPSC is not a national security organ under Article 239(1) of the Constitution and therefore cannot exercise functions reserved for the NPS. Justice Wasilwa cited Articles 243 and 244, affirming that matters of police recruitment, training, and discipline fall squarely within the NPS mandate.
As a result, the judge declared that the recruitment drive announced by NPSC Chairperson Peter Lelei was null and void, and that Legal Notice No. 159 of September 19, 2025, which authorised the process, is unconstitutional.
The court further issued a permanent injunction barring the NPSC from conducting any future recruitment, training, assignment, suspension, or dismissal of police officers.
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"A permanent order is hereby issued restraining the commission from proceeding with the recruitment or any related activities," ruled Justice Wasilwa.
The decision effectively halts the ongoing police recruitment exercise and reaffirms the constitutional independence of the National Police Service in managing its personnel.
