NAIROBI, Kenya — Police officers, prison warders and personnel under the National Youth Service (NYS) will begin receiving the final phase of their revised salaries in July, marking what the government says is the largest cumulative pay increase for security officers in decades.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government said reforms across the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and NYS are being implemented under a structured four-pillar transformation framework aimed at strengthening service delivery, professionalism and accountability.
The announcement followed a meeting of the National Steering Committee overseeing the reform programme, chaired by Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration.
Under the final phase of the review, officers in the lowest ranks are set to benefit most.
A police constable will now earn a maximum monthly salary of KSh57,700, up from KSh38,975, a 48% increase. The same ceiling applies to constables in the prisons service.
Newly graduating constables will receive a starting salary of KSh29,296, compared with KSh20,390 before July 2024. “This represents a salary raise of 44 per cent,” the statement notes.
For NYS officers in the lowest cadre, pay will range from KSh26,222 to KSh37,912, up from the previous Sh19,800 to Sh32,315 band.
At the senior end of the scale, the highest-ranking police officer will now earn a maximum basic salary of KSh345,850 per month, compared to Sh289,090, a 20% increase.
Senior prison officers will earn between Sh301,548 and Sh584,903, up from a previous range of KSh292,765 to KSh576,120. Comparable adjustments have been made within the NYS command structure.
The committee described the increments as the highest cumulative salary rise implemented over three consecutive years for security officers since independence.
The pay review forms part of a broader security sector reform agenda launched in July 2024. The programme is anchored on four pillars: institutional capacity development, operational and logistical preparedness, oversight and accountability, and human resource management and development.
Phased salary adjustments began on 1 July 2024, with the final tranche scheduled for July this year.
According to the steering committee, more than 50% of the planned reform actions have been implemented.
The National Police Service is reported to be leading with 57.2% overall implementation, while the prisons service and NYS are progressing at comparable levels.
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Security sector pay has long been a sensitive issue in Kenya, with previous reviews citing low morale, welfare concerns and operational strain among junior officers.
The current reforms come amid heightened public scrutiny of policing standards, crowd control operations and internal accountability mechanisms.
The government maintains that improved remuneration, alongside structural reforms, will enhance professionalism, reduce corruption risks and strengthen service delivery.
Analysts note that while salary increments may boost morale, sustained reform will depend on parallel investments in training, equipment modernisation, mental health support and independent oversight.
Officials insist the transformation agenda is intended not only to improve working conditions but also to rebuild public confidence in Kenya’s security institutions.
