President William Ruto has endorsed the recommendations put forward by the Police Reforms Taskforce, ushering in a significant change in the National Police Service (NPS) recruitment process. The reforms introduce two distinct entry points, namely constable and cadet levels, as the primary criteria for joining the NPS.

The task force, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga and appointed late last year, presented its findings to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on October 4. President Ruto emphasized that this provision would attract more professionals to the police service, especially in an era of evolving crime dynamics.

Another key recommendation accepted by the President is the reclassification of the National Police Service (NPS), the Prisons Service, and the National Youth Service (NYS) under the security sector, affecting their terms of remuneration and service.

The Police Reforms Taskforce, comprising 20 members appointed by President Ruto in December 2022, was tasked with formulating recommendations to guide security sector reforms. Among their proposals are salary increases for police officers by nearly 50% and changes in officer postings and reassignments.

The task force also recommended that no officer should serve at a single station for more than three years, a measure aimed at fostering career progression.

While President Ruto expressed his commitment to enhancing the police service, including remuneration and terms of service, he highlighted that a more detailed report would be presented by the Taskforce in a month. These security sector reforms, according to President Ruto, will attract more professionals to the service, a crucial development given the ever-evolving nature of criminal activities.