TWV Special Correspondt
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has announced a comprehensive reform of its recruitment process, pledging to deploy modern technology to eliminate corruption and restore public confidence.
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The announcement follows confirmation by the Principal Secretary for Internal Security, Dr Raymond Omollo, that the government will recruit 10,000 new police officers in the coming months. He said the upcoming exercise would embrace a technology-driven approach designed to attract young Kenyans and ensure the process is free, fair, and credible.
In preparation for the exercise, NPSC has launched a series of nationwide public participation forums to gather feedback on the proposed NPSC (Recruitment and Appointment) Draft Regulations, 2025. These meetings, currently being held across the country, are intended to give citizens the opportunity to suggest amendments and contribute to shaping the new recruitment framework.
Addressing a forum at the Mama Grace Onyango Social Centre in Kisumu, NPSC Commissioner Professor Collette Suda reiterated the Commission’s resolve to use innovation as a tool to safeguard integrity. She revealed that a new online recruitment portal will be introduced, significantly reducing human interaction to minimise the risk of manipulation and bribery.
“We want to utilise technological advancements to ensure that this exercise is free from corruption and manipulation,” Professor Suda said. Her remarks come against a backdrop of longstanding public complaints about graft in police hiring, with allegations that past candidates were asked to pay bribes of between KSh100,000 and KSh200,000 to secure positions.
Professor Suda emphasised that the new process will not only guarantee transparency but also ensure diversity and fairness in the selection of candidates. “We will recruit a total of 10,000 officers, with a strong emphasis on diversity, regional balance, and the inclusion of marginalised communities, as well as individuals with special skills or attributes,” she added.
The Commissioner noted that the current recruitment regulations, last revised in 2015, are outdated and no longer meet the demands of a modern police service. The 2025 Draft Regulations, she said, will standardise the recruitment process, promote meritocracy, and enhance public trust in the institution.
She assured the public that the NPSC will operate strictly within the law, and that the planned reforms will address systemic weaknesses that have undermined past recruitment exercises.
Professor Suda was accompanied by Nyanza Regional Police Commander Evelyne Gisiri, Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo, and other senior government officials, underscoring the government’s commitment to a clean and accountable recruitment process.
The Commission’s reform agenda marks a significant step in the professionalisation of the police service, signalling the government’s determination to build a more transparent, diverse, and merit-based law enforcement body.
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