Machakos: The National Police Inspector General, Douglas Kanja, declared the police recruitment exercise smooth and transparent and said it went on without any hitches across all 427 recruitment centres. Kanja was speaking at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Monday evening after he reviewed the exercise where the recruitment was ongoing and noted the good turnout and smooth process.
According to Kenya News Agency, the IG highlighted the significance of the recruitment, which has come at an appropriate time since none has been done in the last three years. The inclusion of 10,000 new recruits is expected to bolster the police force, especially in preparation for the 2027 general elections, focusing on community engagement and professionalism. ‘This recruitment has come at a critical time and is a reformist group that is joining the service during reforms. We will be together with them in the transformation journey and I am proud of the exercise, which has progressed well all over the country,’ said IG Kanja.
In Elgeyo Marakwet, it was a moment of celebration for Sheila Kiplagat, a 24-year-old from the Kiptany minority community in Keiyo North, after successfully being recruited. Ms. Kiplagat shared her challenging journey to the recruitment venue, involving a punctured bodaboda, but she made it in time for the exercise.
Meanwhile, in Nyamira South Sub-county, the recruitment exercise experienced low youth turnout. Daniel Ng’etich, the Recruitment Officer-In-Charge, noted that despite the early arrival of his team at the Nyamira Primary School grounds, the number of youths who showed interest was lower than anticipated.
In Rachuonyo, strict adherence to educational requirements saw many candidates disqualified at the document verification stage for lacking a ‘D’ plus in English and Kiswahili subjects. Officer-In-Charge Musa Omari emphasized the importance of following the guidelines set by the Police Service regulations, resulting in 10 male and 3 female candidates qualifying for the police service.
At Maua Stadium, 160 candidates participated in the recruitment process. Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Mwongera reported that eight candidates, including five women and three men, were successful, meeting all necessary recruitment criteria. Mwongera affirmed the integrity of the process, describing it as free, transparent, and accountable.
In Garissa County, specifically Hulugho and Bothai sub-counties in Ijara Constituency, 13 candidates secured slots. Hulugho Sub-County Commissioner Fred Mutemi confirmed the recruitment of nine candidates from Hulugho and three from Bothai, marking a successful exercise in the region.