Emuria Lotubae
The High Court in Nairobi has lifted its conservatory orders halting the National Police Service (NPS) recruitment, clearing the way for the hiring of 10,000 police constables to proceed as planned on Monday, November 17.
The ruling marks a rapid reversal just days after Justice Bahati Mwamuye suspended the exercise on November 10 following a petition by activist Eliud Matindi.
The petitioner argued that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja acted unconstitutionally by announcing and initiating the November 4 recruitment without the involvement of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), contrary to Article 245 of the Constitution, which assigns the commission a key role in police appointments.
In an urgent application filed on Thursday, November 13, IG Kanja—through State Counsel Marwa Christopher—asked the court to lift the orders, citing the national security risks of delaying the recruitment. He warned that any postponement would disrupt the police training calendar and undermine preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Elections, potentially leaving the service understaffed during a high-demand period.
Justice Mwamuye certified the matter as urgent and, during Friday’s hearing, granted Kanja’s request, effectively vacating the suspension. The judge did not address the substantive merits of Matindi’s petition, which will proceed to a full hearing at a later date.
The recruitment drive, designed to ease chronic manpower shortages within the NPS, targets Kenyan citizens aged 18 to 28. Physical and aptitude assessments will take place across all 47 counties, with successful recruits set to undergo several months of training before deployment.
The decision brings relief to thousands of applicants who had prepared for the original start date, after years of court-related disruptions to police hiring cycles. NPS officials have reiterated that the process will be transparent, merit-based, and compliant with constitutional requirements.