The National Police Service (NPS) has outlined key rules for the recruitment of 10,000 police constables, set to take place on Monday, November 17, 2025.

In a statement on Friday, the NPS urged qualified young Kenyans to participate, noting that the exercise will run from 8 am to 5 pm at all 427 recruitment centres nationwide. The Service described it as a one-day event and said the new officers would play a crucial role in driving ongoing reforms.

“This is not just a chance to get a job; rather, it is a new dawn for Kenya. The successful young men and women will form a new cohort of officers expected to drive the positive and reformist agenda currently underway in the Service,” the statement said.

The NPS also warned against corruption, promising strict action against anyone involved in bribery.

“We wish to state categorically and emphatically that anyone who indulges, or attempts to indulge, in bribery or corruption in any form, whether as a giver or a taker, will face the full force of the law,” the statement read.

PRESS RELEASE : NPS CALLS ON KENYAN YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE RECRUITMENT ON MONDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2025 pic.twitter.com/NmA7O92cFT

— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) November 14, 2025

The recruitment comes after the High Court lifted interim orders that had temporarily blocked the exercise. Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Friday stayed the orders issued on November 10, 2025, following a petition by London-based activist Eliud Matindi.

Matindi had challenged the IG’s authority to recruit officers, arguing that the power to do so lies with the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

IG Douglas Kanja, through State Counsel Christopher Marwa, countered that the country has faced a shortage of police officers due to natural attrition and no recruitment in the past three years. He further noted the need to bolster security ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Due to the shortage of police officers as a result of the lack of recruitment of police officers for the past three years and natural attrition, there has been a rise in security challenges in the country,” IG Kanja stated.

Justice Mwamuye allowed the recruitment to proceed pending the hearing of the IG’s application.

“That pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the IG notice of motion application dated November 13, 2025, the conservatory orders issued on November 10, 2025, in this matter are stayed, and the obtaining status quo ante in place immediately before their issuance shall apply in the interim,” the judge ruled.

Case management had been scheduled for November 17, the same day the recruitment exercise is set to take place.