Court Halts Recruitment Of 10,000 Kenya Police Officers, Govt Responds
This means the exercise will remain on hold until the court delivers its ruling on the case.
Marvin Chege 
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has halted the ongoing police recruitment until a petition contesting the exercise is heard and resolved.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa issued temporary conservatory orders on September 30, 2025, effectively suspending the recruitment process. This means the exercise will remain on hold until the court delivers its ruling on the case.
The judge gave the respondents seven days to submit their replies, while the petitioner will also have seven days to file additional affidavits and submissions.
The matter is scheduled for mention on October 21, 2025, for compliance checks and submission highlights.
Photo of a legal scale and a gavel in Kenya. /LAWBHOOMI
Govt's Rapid Response
Just moments later, the government, through Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen, shrugged off the court order, vowing to continue with the recruitment on Friday, October 3, as planned.
At the 48th Jukwaa la Usalama forum for Nairobi County, held at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, Murkomen voiced his frustration with the suspension of the recruitment exercise, questioning if the judiciary had weighed its broader impact on the country.
“I wish I could be allowed to call the judge directly to understand the consequences of a court order to the recruitment of police officers that has never happened for the last four years, and how it is critical for the safety of our country to recruit them urgently,” he replied.
On Friday, September 5, the commission’s leadership, chaired by Yuda Komora, convened to discuss key issues affecting the National Police Service (NPS), as it approved the nationwide recruitment of 10,000 new police constables.
The planned recruitment of police constables was among the key issues discussed. However, NPSC announced that it will enforce strict regulations to address past challenges in the hiring process.
The commission emphasised that the new measures are designed to guarantee transparency and ensure that merit remains the guiding principle.
During the meeting, the Commission confirmed that 10,000 constables will be recruited under the newly adopted National Police Service Commission (Recruitment and Appointment) Regulations, 2025.
These guidelines, developed under Section 28 of the NPSC Act, update the 2015 rules by addressing existing gaps and factoring in emerging issues in policing and human resource management. The aim is to streamline recruitment, enhance accountability, and prioritise merit-based selection.
Among the provisions of this Act is a requirement for all applicants to submit their applications online before the nationwide field recruitment begins.
The directive had sparked a standoff between the uniformed and civilian members of the commission, but a recent meeting resolved the deadlock.
