Nairobi

A constitutional fight over who controls the police payroll has reached the High Court, as a Nairobi-based lobby group accuses Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of unlawfully taking over the role from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

Sheria Mtaani, through lawyer Danstan Omari, filed an urgent petition before Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Tuesday. The group argues that under Article 246(3) of the Constitution, payroll functions sit squarely with the NPSC—not the police chief.

“Kenyans saw Parliament order the IG to surrender the payroll,” Omari told reporters. “But Parliament has no such powers. That’s why we’ve gone to court—for a constitutional interpretation.”

The case comes at a sensitive time. Recruitment is under way for 10,000 new officers, with billions in budget allocations already set aside. Omari warned that the payroll dispute threatens to paralyse a key national security organ.

“We are seeing a dysfunctional security system, and that is a national security issue,” he said. “The IG sits in the National Security Council, but the commission does not. So, if there’s paralysis, who will safeguard the 55 million Kenyans who depend on the police command structure?”

At the centre of the row is a Ksh60 billion annual payroll that covers more than 100,000 officers nationwide. The NPSC insists it has constitutional authority over recruitment, promotions and discipline, while accusing the IG of taking over payroll functions—raising fears of record tampering and administrative deadlock.

Sheria Mtaani’s petition warns that allowing the IG to run the payroll undermines transparency, especially during fresh recruitment drives.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has acknowledged the dispute and offered to mediate, but the group says only the Judiciary can resolve the matter.

“We appreciate the goodwill, but this is a matter for the courts,” said advocate Wanjiku Waidera, speaking after the filing. “We need Justice Mugambi to make a pronouncement.”

The Inspector General has so far remained silent, even after the NPSC flagged the issue before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on 16 July. The petition has been filed under vacation rules, underscoring the urgency with which the group wants it heard.