The Kenya Police Service is grappling with a critical staffing shortage, with the last recruitment taking place in 2022. The prolonged hiring freeze, blamed on budgetary constraints, has raised alarms amid rising security concerns and the deployment of Kenyan officers to conflict zones.

While the government has announced plans for new recruitment, the existing personnel gap threatens the police-to-population ratio and the force’s ability to maintain law and order.

Speaking during a ministerial retreat in Naivasha, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged the challenges facing the ministry, which oversees over eight key departments and agencies.

Police-to-Citizen Ratio at Risk

Inspector General Douglas Kanja voiced concerns over the impact of delayed recruitment, emphasizing that the current 1:450 police-to-citizen ratio—though meeting UN standards—remains inadequate given Kenya’s evolving security needs.

At the same retreat, Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance and Delivery Management, underscored the crucial partnership between his office and the ministry, particularly in ensuring effective government project implementation.

He urged regional administrators to take a proactive role in shaping the president’s itinerary, warning against political interference in government project launches.

"You, as technocrats, are responsible for verifying these projects. Politicians are primarily interested in political mileage," he noted, stressing that only budgeted projects should be commissioned to avoid unrealistic public expectations.

Midterm Scorecard & Government Performance

CS Murkomen further stated that the government has already fulfilled 50% of its manifesto promises, a milestone he described as commendable ahead of the midterm review.

Among those in attendance at the retreat were PS Internal Security Dr. Raymond Omolo, PS Immigration Dr. Julius Bitok, PS Correctional Services Dr. Salome Beacco, DCI Director Mohammed Amin, and IPOA Chair Isaak Hassan, among others.