Kenya’s long-awaited police recruitment drive has been thrown into uncertainty after the High Court temporarily halted the process pending a constitutional petition.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, November 10, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order suspending the National Police Service’s (NPS) plan to recruit 10,000 police constables, which had been set for later this month.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the petitioner’s application, a conservatory order is hereby issued suspending the Notice of Recruitment of Police Constables/Officers issued on November 4, 2025,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.
The order, handed down at the Milimani Law Courts, followed a petition filed by activist Eliud Matindi, who is challenging the legality of the exercise announced by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
The judge directed that the respondents — including the state and all agencies involved in the recruitment — must cease any preparations or facilitation of the process until the matter is heard and determined.
Justice Mwamuye also ordered the petitioner to serve all parties with the relevant court documents by November 12 and to file proof of service, warning that any disobedience of the court’s order would attract penalties.
Recruitment Faces Fresh Legal Setback
The suspension marks another twist in a recruitment process already mired in legal battles.
Just days earlier, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) lacked constitutional authority to recruit police officers.
In a landmark October 30 judgment, Justice Hellen Wasilwa affirmed that the power to recruit, train, assign, suspend, and dismiss officers rests solely with the National Police Service — not any external body.
Following that decision, the NPS announced it would take over the exercise, scheduling the recruitment for November 17 across all sub-counties.
The Service assured Kenyans that the process would be “free, fair, and transparent,” with strict eligibility requirements for applicants.
Eligibility and Next Steps
According to the NPS notice, applicants must be Kenyan citizens aged 18 to 28, possess a valid national ID, and hold a minimum grade of D+ in KCSE, including at least a D+ in English or Kiswahili.
Candidates must also meet specific physical and medical fitness standards: men must be at least 5ft 8in tall, women 5ft 3in, and female applicants must not be pregnant during recruitment or training.
For now, the recruitment remains suspended, with the court set to hear the case in the coming days. The outcome could determine not only the future of this year’s intake but also clarify long-standing questions over who holds the constitutional power to recruit Kenya’s police officers.