Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed massive irregularities in the recruitment of police personnel, calling for urgent reforms to restore transparency and accountability.
The report, covering a study conducted between February 10 and June 13, 2025, found that bribery, political interference, and outdated manual processes have long undermined recruitment for constables, cadets, specialists, and civilian staff.
Constable recruitment frequently ignored regulations, with skewed advertisements, inconsistent selection criteria, and absent complaint mechanisms creating opportunities for graft. Similar issues were noted in cadet recruitment, where qualified graduate officers were excluded in favour of untested public candidates, leaving experienced officers demoralised.
Specialist recruitment within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also lacked clear criteria, enabling favouritism and corruption, particularly in units such as forensics and cybercrime. Recruitment of talent in sports and arts faced similar vulnerabilities due to lack of structured guidelines.
Civilian staff recruitment showed gaps too. In November 2023, successful applicants had their appointment letters downgraded, causing financial and reputational loss. Many new recruits in January 2025 were deployed without induction or clarity on roles, leading to confusion and inefficiencies across counties.
EACC further noted that the National Police Service had not finalised a Human Resource Policy and Procedures Manual, creating discretion and bias in personnel management.
To address these issues, EACC recommended fast-tracking the HR manual, establishing complaint-handling desks at all recruitment centres, and automating recruitment processes to ensure fairness and accountability. The commission warned that without urgent reforms, the National Police Service risks continued inefficiency and loss of public trust.
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This was very well laid out and easy to follow.