Kenyan Govt to Recruit Thousands of Police Constables Using New Online System
- NPSC Commissioner Collette Suda said the online recruitment exercise will serve to close avenues for bribery and favouritism
- Public participation forums, including one held in Kisumu, are helping refine the regulations that will anchor the new online recruitment system
- The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recently ranked the National Police Service among the most corrupt institutions in Kenya
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Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) plans to conduct the next police recruitment exercise through a new online system.
Source: Twitter
The digital reforms in police recruitment are designed to eliminate corruption, nepotism, and irregularities that have long tainted the process.
Earlier in May 2025 Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced that the next round of police recruitment will be conducted online for the first time in history.
What is the impact of online police recruitment
NPSC Commissioner Collette Suda said the digital shift will drastically reduce human contact in recruitment.
This is expected to cut off avenues for bribery and favouritism that have previously locked out deserving candidates.
Speaking during a public participation forum in Kisumu, Suda acknowledged the widespread public dissatisfaction with the police recruitment processes due to corruption.
“It is true there has been public outcry over irregularities during police recruitment. Leveraging technology will significantly reduce malpractices and give young Kenyans a fair chance to serve in the National Police Service," Suda said, as reported on MyGov.
The reforms follow years of controversy surrounding police hiring, with past reports exposing bribery demands, political interference, and the replacement of successful applicants with well-connected individuals.
Regulations for online police recruitment
Suda revealed that the Commission is finalising regulations that will anchor the new system and that the public participation forums were helping to refine the framework.
The Kisumu session drew participants from Busia, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, and Siaya counties.
“This participatory process is a constitutional imperative. We appreciate the interest and input from Kenyans, which will enrich the document before we proceed with recruitment,” she said.
Unlike previous one-day exercises often marred by chaos and allegations of irregularities, the new online process will be spread out to allow applicants adequate time to prepare and apply.
Shortlisting will also be done digitally, ensuring equal opportunity across all regions.
According to Suda, the digital recruitment framework is expected not only to boost transparency but also to rebuild public trust in the police hiring process, which has for years been viewed as a breeding ground for graft.
Source: Twitter
Which are the most corrupt institutions in Kenya?
In other news, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that corruption in Kenya remains widespread, with bribery, embezzlement, and fraudulent acquisitions dominating public institutions.
EACC noted that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Police Service (NPS) lead in corruption.
In its 2023-2024 report, the commission disclosed it received 5,171 corruption-related complaints, up from 4,932 the previous year, with bribery accounting for 42% of cases, followed by embezzlement (13%) and unethical conduct (12%).
The report flagged KRA for bribery and fraudulent tax assessments, while the police were cited for bribe-taking in traffic offences, licensing irregularities, and case dismissals.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
