NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Police Service (NPS) has officially announced the commencement of its nationwide recruitment exercise for Police Constables in 2025, inviting qualified Kenyan citizens to apply to join the service.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Inspector General Douglas Kanja Kirocho confirmed that the recruitment drive will take place across the country on Monday, November 17, 2025, running from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Mandate confirmed after court rulings
The announcement follows a legal battle between the NPS and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) over which body holds the constitutional mandate to conduct the hiring.
The NPSC had initially scheduled the recruitment exercise to run from October 3 to October 9, 2025. However, this process was initially disrupted when the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued a temporary order on October 2, halting the recruitment of the 10,000 police officers.
The matter was ultimately resolved on October 30, 2025, when the High Court declared the NPSC’s initial advertisement unconstitutional, definitively ruling that the mandate for recruitment lies with the National Police Service (NPS).
Eligibility and requirements
To be considered for the role of Police Constable, applicants must meet several stringent requirements:
- Age: Must be between 18 and 28 years of age.
- Citizenship: Must be a registered Kenyan citizen with a valid Kenya National Identity Card.
- Education: Must possess a minimum aggregate grade of D+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
- Criminal record: Must have no criminal record or pending criminal charges.
- Fitness: Candidates must be physically and mentally fit. Female applicants must not be pregnant at the time of recruitment or during the entire training period.
- Physical requirements:
- Males: Must be at least 1.7 meters tall (5ft 8in).
- Females: Must be at least 1.6 meters tall (5ft 3in).
The NPS also encouraged graduates from the National Youth Service (NYS) who meet the entry requirements to apply, noting that preference will be given to those with a minimum rating of ‘Good’ in conduct.
The Inspector General concluded the statement by issuing a stern warning against all forms of bribery and corruption, emphasizing that the recruitment exercise is entirely free and open to all eligible and qualified candidates.
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“The National Police Service recruitment drive is free and open to all eligible and qualified candidates. engaging in bribery or any other form of corrupt practices with the intent to influence the recruitment process constitutes a criminal offence,” the notice reads.
“Any person who willfully gives to the National Police Service any Information which is false or misleading in any material particular commits an offence and will be prosecuted. Members of the public are urged to report any recruitment malpractice to the nearest police station,” it warns.
The National Youth Service (NYS) graduates who meet the qualifications are encouraged to apply, as their prior training will be considered an added advantage.
