President William Ruto has approved the promotion of police officers currently serving at the rank of constable and aged 50 years and above, with the promotions set to take effect in June 2026.

The announcement was made during an engagement with National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The move is intended to honour these officers as they approach retirement after years of service.

The president indicated that additional guidelines have been developed to facilitate promotions across other police ranks.

“Tumekubaliana askari wote ambao ni constable, ambao wako na miaka 50, nab ado yeye ni constable wote wawe promoted,” Ruto stated.

Chiefs promotion

As part of these changes, all chiefs and assistant chiefs who have completed mandatory training at the Embakasi B Campus will also be promoted by one rank. Their promotions will be effected once the necessary budgetary allocations are incorporated in the next financial year.

“All chiefs and assistant chiefs are going to be promoted by one rank, June 2026, when the funds have been incorporated into the budget,” he added.

These measures follow a request by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who raised concerns over stagnation affecting local administrators who have remained in the same ranks for extended periods.

Alongside the promotions, the president approved a monthly stipend of Ksh3,500 for village elders, marking the first formal financial recognition for their contributions to local administration.

In a broader reform agenda affecting the police service, the president directed that no officer should be transferred before completing at least one year at a duty station. The directive seeks to address past cases where officers were redeployed frequently before settling or being considered for promotion.

Transfers will now be guided by sensitivity to officers’ social and family circumstances. Furthermore, officers aged 50 and above will gradually be transferred closer to their home areas as they near retirement.

The president also set a limit for deployment in operational areas, stating that no officer should serve in such regions for more than three years.

Logistical challenges

The government is also addressing logistical challenges in the service, with initial plans to procure 1,200 vehicles now expanded to 3,000 after an additional funding commitment. A mechanism is also being developed to resolve persistent fuel shortages that have hindered police mobility, with them turning to electric vehicles.

The reforms signal a wide-ranging effort by the government to improve welfare, mobility, and career progression within the police service and local administration.