Government to Hire 10,000 New Police Officers in the Next Financial Year, Says CS Murkomen

 

By Joshua Narkash 

The government has committed to recruiting 10,000 new police officers in the upcoming financial year to address the staffing shortages and challenges facing the National Police Service. Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development, and Public Works, Kipchumba Murkomen, made the announcement on Wednesday during the National Police Service Development Partners Roundtable at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, Nairobi.

Murkomen acknowledged that resource constraints had led to a significant gap in police recruitment in recent years, resulting in increased strain on police stations across the country. "We are conscious of the fact that in the last 3 to 4 years, we have not been able to hire or recruit new police officers, and that has put a big strain on most of the police stations," he said.

In response to this growing concern, Murkomen assured that a recruitment drive for 10,000 new officers would begin in the coming months, with the process set to start within the current financial year. "I am glad to announce that in the next financial year and in a process that will begin from this financial year in a month or two, we shall be going out to recruit another 10,000 police officers to make sure that the police service is resourced," he confirmed.

The CS also emphasized the importance of creating a comprehensive plan that would ensure the consistent and annual recruitment of officers, with proper record-keeping of personnel numbers as the police service continues to grow.

Murkomen further highlighted the government's commitment to improving the welfare, motivation, and productivity of police officers. He pledged to implement the recommendations from the national taskforce on police reforms and to launch affordable mortgage schemes for officers. "The decentralization of services, the establishment of a contributory benevolent fund, and pursuit of a fair and competitive mortgage reaffirm the government’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of our police officers," he added.

In closing, Murkomen called for greater collaboration between the government, development partners, and the private sector in supporting the National Police Service. His remarks underscore the government's continued effort to enhance the capacity and welfare of the police force to better serve the public.

The announcement of the police recruitment drive is expected to alleviate some of the pressure faced by the National Police Service, and the planned reforms aim to further modernize and strengthen the police force as it navigates the complexities of ensuring national security.

March 26, 2025