NAIROBI, Kenya – The planned recruitment of 10,000 police officers is hanging in the balance after fresh divisions at the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) stalled preparations ahead of the October intake deadline.
Infighting between civilian commissioners and top police chiefs over the introduction of a new online application system has left the process without a budget and uncertain timelines, despite recruits being expected to report to training colleges by October 1.
The wrangles have escalated into turf wars, with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his deputies—Gilbert Masengeli and Eliud Lagat—teaming up with DCI boss Mohammed Amin to oppose the online system.
They argue the platform is being rolled out without proper approval by the full commission.
Civilian commissioners, led by Peter Leley, back the shift to digital recruitment, which the National Security Council has also endorsed.
In a letter dated August 6, Leley informed the IG that the commission had withdrawn all powers previously delegated to him on human resource management.
Copies of the letter were sent to senior government officials, including Auditor General Nancy Gathungu and Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, signaling a deepening rift at the heart of the service.
The standoff now puts pressure on newly appointed NPSC chairperson Dr. Amani Komora, who assumed office last week.
Komora has convened a full commission meeting on Friday at CBK Pension Towers, his first official session, to address the recruitment crisis and chart a way forward.
“We will build a cohesive and unified NPSC, taking into account that divisions would undermine our ability to achieve our mandate. Unity of purpose will be our focus,” Komora said after being sworn in.
The current crisis revives longstanding concerns flagged in April by the outgoing commission chaired by Eliud Kinuthia.
Its exit report highlighted irregularities in officer transfers and warned against sidelining the commission in key human resource decisions.
President William Ruto, while receiving the report, urged the commission to continue reforms in the police service, noting that recruitment flaws, budget constraints, and stalled welfare reforms must be urgently addressed.
“Even as we acknowledge this success, we also recognise the challenges that remain and demand our urgent focus and attention,” he said.
Unless the deadlock is resolved quickly, the mass hiring exercise—meant to ease staffing shortages in the police service after a three-year freeze—risks collapse.
