The National Police Service (NPS) has lowered the automatic promotion age for police officers by three years, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.
Speaking during a public meeting on Thursday, August 7, Murkomen revealed that the NPS promotional board had earlier this week agreed to reduce the promotion age for long-serving officers from 53 to 50.
For instance if a police officers has served as a corporal, sergeant or constable for more than 15 years and he has reached age 50, he will be automatically promoted, according to Murkomen, while on the other hand, inspectors who have served in their roles for more than 10 years and have reached the age of 50, will also enjoy the same benefit.
"Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, had previously announced that the promotional age of officers who have served for long as corporals is 53 and above; however, this has changed," Murkomen said.
"The promotion board sat down yesterday and agreed that if a police officer is 50 years old and has served as a constable, corporal, or sergeant for more than 15 years, he will be promoted, and if you have been an inspector for 10 years, you will also be automatically promoted," he added.
Murkomen further claimed that the service would also develop more strategies to ensure that police officers are considered for transfer within a shorter period.
Currently, police officers in the country are required to serve a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years at a single duty station before being considered for transfer, a strategy aimed at guaranteeing the well-being of officers and their families.
The announcement comes two weeks after the Interior CS stated that the government had initiated the implementation of the second phase of a ten per cent salary increase for police officers.
Speaking in Nandi on Thursday, July 24, Murkomen said the phased increase was in line with the budgetary adjustment for the current financial year 2025/2026 and the recommendations of the police task force.
Murkomen urged security agencies across the country to be patient as the government continues to implement the salary increment to all officers.
"Last year, a ten per cent increase was made for police officers who are in the lower cadre. This year, another ten per cent increase will be done," Murkomen stated.
"We recently crossed into the new financial year, and the exchequer releases are still ongoing, so there is no need to worry. It will be implemented, and should there be an issue, the National Police Service Commission can do so," he added.
