The High Court in Kenya has issued a conservatory order halting the recruitment of 10,000 police constables scheduled for November 17. Justice Bahati Mwamuye's ruling responds to a petition challenging the process announced by Inspector General Douglas Kanja. The suspension remains in place pending further hearings.
On November 10, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the High Court at Milimani Law Courts issued a conservatory order suspending the National Police Service's (NPS) recruitment of 10,000 police constables. The order halts implementation of the recruitment notice issued on November 4, 2025, by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, pending an inter partes hearing on a petition filed by activist Eliud Matindi.
The petition challenges the constitutionality of the recruitment exercise, which was set to occur on November 17 across all sub-counties in Kenya. Justice Mwamuye directed that no further steps in the recruitment process proceed, applying the order to the respondents, the state, and any related persons, bodies, or agencies. The judge also required the petitioner to serve the application, petition, and orders on respondents and interested parties by November 12, along with an affidavit of service. A penal notice warns of consequences for disobedience.
This ruling follows a recent decision by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on October 30, where Justice Hellen Wasilwa declared that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) lacks authority to recruit officers, transferring the mandate exclusively to the NPS. In response, the NPS outlined eligibility criteria: applicants must be Kenyan citizens aged 18 to 28, possess a valid national ID, have at least a D+ in KCSE with a D+ in English or Kiswahili, be physically and medically fit, meet height requirements of 5 feet 8 inches for males and 5 feet 3 inches for females, and for females, not be pregnant during recruitment or training. The NPS emphasized that the process would be free, fair, and transparent.
The suspension represents a significant delay in efforts to bolster Kenya's police force amid ongoing debates over recruitment authority and procedures.