Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja has petitioned the High Court to urgently lift an order suspending the recruitment of 10,000 police constables. He warns that the shortage of officers poses a threat to national security. The request stems from a court ruling on November 10, 2025.
Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja has filed an urgent application at the High Court in Milimani to vacate an order halting the recruitment of 10,000 police constables. The move arises from a petition by Eliud Matindi, who challenged the legality of the recruitment process. The High Court suspended the exercise on November 10, 2025, based on incomplete information.
Kanja claims Matindi withheld details of a recent Labour Court ruling that affirmed the Inspector General's authority to recruit police officers under Article 245(4)(c) of the Constitution, not the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). “This case was filed without informing the court that the same issue had been fully determined three weeks earlier,” states Kanja's application.
The government faces a severe shortage of police officers following a three-year hiring freeze, compounded by retirements and resignations. Kanja warned that suspending the recruitment, whose preparations were complete, could weaken security operations amid rising crime.
“Elections require a large number of officers for security. We need sufficient time to train them before deploying,” Kanja said. Furthermore, “Delaying or halting this recruitment denies the Police Service adequate time to train and deploy officers to security duties.” This could impact national security preparations.