Thursday, 6 March 2025 – 4:00 PM
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled a groundbreaking plan to automate the police recruitment process, a move aimed at eliminating corruption and enhancing transparency.
Speaking after a meeting with the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) leadership, Murkomen emphasized that the digital transformation was part of the government’s broader modernization agenda for security agencies.
“The commission is piloting the automation of police recruitment to enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency,” Murkomen stated.
Ending Corruption in Police Recruitment
The decision to introduce digital recruitment follows recommendations from former Chief Justice David Maraga’s 2023 report, which exposed widespread bribery and nepotism in the police hiring process.
Maraga’s task force revealed that senior officers were selling recruitment slots for up to Ksh600,000 and, in some cases, demanding sexual favors in exchange for jobs. The automation of applications is expected to curb these malpractices by ensuring that all candidates go through a centralized online system, reducing human interference.
Key Reforms Beyond Recruitment
In addition to automating police hiring, Murkomen highlighted ongoing reforms, including:
✅ Salary reviews for police officers
✅ Promotions and transfers within the service
✅ The appointment of new NPSC members, with a selection panel already sworn in to oversee the process
The move to digitize recruitment marks a major milestone in restoring public trust in the National Police Service, with the government promising a more merit-based and corruption-free hiring system.
As automation takes effect, all eyes will be on whether the new system delivers the promised efficiency and fairness in police recruitment.