Murkomen promises police recruitment will go for the deserving, not highest bidder
By Faith Lagat, September 18, 2025Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged that the upcoming police recruitment will prioritise transparency and merit, ruling out favoritism or bribery.
Speaking on Thursday, September 18, 2025, during a regional security briefing on the sidelines of the Kisumu edition of Jukwaa la Usalama, Murkomen assured corruption-free recruitment.
“We want to have a very transparent recruitment of police in a manner that does not disenfranchise any Kenyan but at the same time, make sure that there is no bribery. Recruitment to the police service does not go to the highest bidder; that is our plan,” Murkomen stated, highlighting a commitment to fairness and integrity in the process.
The assurance comes days after Murkomen met with the newly constituted National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the National Police Service (NPS) leadership to discuss critical issues ahead of the planned recruitment of at least 10,000 police officers in September 2025.
The meeting, held on September 8, 2025, focused on resolving longstanding tensions between the NPS and NPSC, particularly regarding the promotion of senior officers and control of the police payroll. Murkomen said the discussions also addressed police welfare concerns raised during Jukwaa la Usalama forums, emphasising the need for the NPSC’s input and implementation.
Zero tolerance to corruption
Murkomen’s stance on corruption in the recruitment process is unequivocal. “Corruption is one area, as you know we have been accused in the NPS to be very corrupt, and part of our discussion in Jukwaa la Usalama has been how to get rid of corruption in our midst, and part of that is also in our recruitment. We want to make sure that from the word go, the deserving persons are recruited to NPS, not those who have bought their way,” he asserted.
The commitment to eradicating corruption aligns with broader reforms aimed at restoring professionalism and discipline within the police force, as highlighted in recent regulatory updates by the NPSC.
Digital recruitment challenges
The planned digital recruitment process, however, faces challenges.
Former Police Spokesperson Charles Owino has raised concerns about poor network coverage in some regions and the potential difficulties of handling a large volume of online applicants.
Despite these hurdles, the shift to a virtual platform is intended to enhance transparency, following past recruitment exercises marred by allegations of bribery and bias. The NPSC has confirmed that the exercise will commence in September 2025, with training scheduled for November 17, 2025, marking a new era in Kenya’s approach to police recruitment.