The National Police service has started the recruitment of 5,000 Police Constables in centers countrywide on Monday, February 22, three years after the last recruitment.
Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai said that the exercise aims to recruit 4700 constables and 300 cadets.
Over 30,000 people applied for the 300 cadet slots via the National Police Service commission portal.
In the past three years, the service has reported a loss of over 2000 officers annually. A majority have resigned, while others have had to leave following injuries sustained while on duty. In 2018, 24,000 administration police officers shifted to Kenya Police leaving a gap in the service.
There has also been an increased need for additional police stations across the country which has been hampered by inadequate funds.
The NPS is looking for candidates specialized in medicine, engineering, forensic science, ballistics, education, and law.
“Applicants must present themselves at the recruitment centers with the duly completed form indicating the service of preference on the day of the recruitment exercise,” the Inspector General said.
Mutyambai added that applicants recruited for the training will be bound to serve in the National Police service for not less than 10 years.
Eliud Kinuthia, the National Police Service Commission Chairman, emphasized that the exercise will be fair and transparent and all the covid-19 protocols will be upheld.
IG Mutyambai who was answering questions on Twitter clarified the ratio of male to female recruitment.
"Every recruitment is open, free, and fair to all. However, sometimes there may be more of either gender based on the strict qualification criteria per cluster. This is not meant to discriminate against any gender," he said.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority stated that they will supervise, take complaints, and compliments on the exercise.
“Given IPOA’s understanding that the work of professionalizing the police must start at the recruitment stage, the authority shall receive the complaints and compliments, analyze them and share its report with the National Police Service,” said Anne Makori IPOA chairperson.
