Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now wants Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to scrap academic qualifications as a prerequisite for entry into the National Police Service.

While speaking in Tana River County on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the senator proposed that the current minimum requirement of a D grade be abolished and replaced with no academic qualification at all for recruits seeking to join the police service.

Ledama, who has been vocal on issues of marginalisation, said that many young people from marginalised communities have the dream and passion to join the police service but are held back by their lack of basic secondary education.

He argued that these individuals, if given the opportunity, can perform police duties effectively.

“Mimi nakuomba utoe hio elimu katika hawa watu wa polisi, kabisa kwa sababu kuna marginalisation na wafugaji wetu wengi hawajaenda shule, na ni watu very clever,” he said.

The senator further stated that once the current stalemate between the National Police Commission and the Police Service, which has led to the suspension of the recruitment process, is resolved, Murkomen should explore ways to remove the education requirement for recruits to give uneducated youth a chance to serve in the police sector.

“Mkishatatua huo mzozo ambao uko, mimi nakuomba utoe hiyo requirement ya education, chukua vijana hata wale hawajawahi kusoma, waweke wawe mapolisi,” he added.

Suspension of police recruitment

These come days after the National Police Service (NPS) postponed its planned police recruitment exercise that was set to begin on Friday, October 3, 2025, following a court order.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, the NPS announced that the recruitment exercise will not proceed as earlier scheduled and will remain suspended until further notice.

According to the statement, the Employment and Labour Relations Court, in Petition No. E196 of 2025 (Harun Mwau v. Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service Commission & 2 Others), issued an order halting the exercise. The recruitment drive had been expected to officially commence across the country on October 3.

This comes after the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspended the 10,000-officer recruitment exercise until a petition filed by former MP John Harun Mwau is heard and determined.