NAIROBI, Kenya – It’s a new dawn for the National Police Service (NPS) after the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) presented the online Police Recruitment System to top service commanders and senior officers in the service.
Led by Deputy CEO of Finance, Planning, and Administration John Wambugu, the technical committee provided a detailed explanation on how the recruitment process will be conducted through the online system that will, among others, enhance accountability and efficiency.
In a statement, the commission disclosed that the technical committee demonstrated how the process will be conducted from receiving of application, shortlisting, physical assessment, and issuance of docket numbers to successful applicants.
“The forum provided an opportunity for the service to review the system and provide constructive feedback to enhance its overall efficiency,” the statement reads in part.
In attendance were the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja; DIG Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat; DIG Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli; Director DCI Amin Mohammed; and other senior officers from the service and the commission.
This new development comes barely a fortnight after IG Kanja revealed that Kenya’s police recruitment process was gearing up towards getting a digital makeover, which could be the game-changer that finally knocks corruption out of the equation.
How the online police recruitment portal system will operate
Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Kanja revealed that the next police recruitment will be conducted entirely online — a bold move aimed at restoring public trust and cleaning up a system long dogged by bribery and backdoor dealings.
Say goodbye to long queues at dusty stadiums and whispered payments in shadowy corners.
According to Kanja, the online recruitment portal will not only streamline the application process but also eliminate many of the usual graft loopholes.
Only candidates who are pre-qualified and shortlisted through the digital system will advance to the field stage for physical assessments.
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This shift is not just about efficiency. It’s about integrity. Kanja made it clear that digitisation is a deliberate step to create a more transparent, merit-based selection process — a point the National Police Service has previously acknowledged as crucial to restoring credibility.
While the move to online systems dominated the discussion, Kanja also addressed concerns about gender representation in the police force.
He admitted that the service has yet to meet the constitutional requirement of 30% female representation, a gap the new digital approach could help close by offering equal access to all eligible applicants, regardless of location or connections.
Why IG Douglas Kanja couldn’t shed light on ethnic disparities
This revelation came amid growing calls for public service institutions to meet diversity benchmarks and uphold constitutional mandates, especially in uniformed services.
Pressed by lawmakers to comment on ethnic disparities within the police ranks, Kanja was notably tight-lipped.
He declined to provide detailed figures, citing national security concerns. While the lack of transparency raised eyebrows in the room, he hinted that releasing such data publicly could compromise sensitive state interests — a familiar, if controversial, stance among security agencies.
The Commission presented the online Police Recruitment System to top Service Commanders and Senior Officers in the National Police Service.Led by Deputy CEO Finance, Planning and Administration John Wambugu, the technical committee provided a detailed explanation on how the
Still, his refusal did little to quiet public discourse around equitable representation, particularly as Kenya continues to grapple with ethnic tensions and demands for inclusivity in state institutions.
Kanja’s tech-forward approach could mark a new chapter for Kenya’s police force — one that leans into transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Whether the shift to digital platforms truly curbs corruption or simply moves it online remains to be seen.
