The National Police Service Commission will use advanced digital platforms in its 2025 recruitment drive to curb graft, ensure transparency, and promote diversity.
By: Ogonyo Centrine
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has announced plans to integrate smart and advanced technology into its forthcoming police recruitment exercise as part of measures to eliminate corruption and enhance transparency.
NPSC Commissioner, Prof. Collette Suda, said the move is aimed at reducing human interaction in the recruitment process — a factor she believes has in the past contributed to graft and irregularities in the hiring of officers.
Speaking in Kisumu during the Draft Public Participation and Written Memoranda session on the NPSC (Recruitment and Appointment) Regulations, 2025, Prof. Suda stressed that the commission is determined to make the process fair and credible.
“The use of digital platforms will minimise human interface as much as possible,” she said, adding that past recruitment exercises have been marred by corruption, undermining public trust in the police service.
The NPSC is set to recruit approximately 10,000 new officers in the upcoming exercise, with a strong emphasis on ensuring diversity and regional balance. Prof. Suda explained that the commission will give priority to candidates from marginalised areas and those possessing special qualities that can add value to the service.
“We will recruit a total of some 10,000 officers with high consideration for diversity and regional balance,” she said. “Marginalised areas and people with special qualities will also be considered.”
During the Kisumu session, held at the Mama Grace Onyango Social Centre, residents had an opportunity to present their views on the draft regulations. One resident formally submitted her views as part of the public participation process, which is being conducted in different parts of the country.
Prof. Suda reassured the public that the NPSC will strictly operate within the law during the exercise. She noted that the commission is committed to reforming the current recruitment framework, which has been in use since 2015 and is now considered outdated.
“We are determined to effect reforms in the recruitment module,” she said. “The current one, which was last updated in 2015, is now obsolete.”
The Draft Public Participation and Written Memoranda on the NPSC (Recruitment and Appointment) Regulations, 2025, have been conducted in various forums across the country. According to the commissioner, the purpose of the new regulations is to create a standardised framework for police recruitment, ensuring transparency and merit-based selection.
The regulations outline clear procedures and guidelines to govern the process, thereby limiting opportunities for corruption and bias. The commission believes that by adopting advanced technology, it will be able to track, verify, and process applications more efficiently while safeguarding the integrity of the selection process.
Prof. Suda was accompanied at the Kisumu forum by Nyanza Regional Commander Evelyne Gisiri, Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo, and other top officers from the region. Their presence underscored the significance the commission attaches to public participation in shaping the recruitment regulations.
The NPSC’s reform agenda aligns with the wider government push to modernise public service recruitment processes and make them more accountable. Public trust in the recruitment process has in the past been undermined by reports of bribery, nepotism, and favouritism — issues the commission says it is now determined to address decisively.
By making use of smart technology, the NPSC aims to digitise key steps in the recruitment process — from application submission and verification to interview scheduling and final selection. This, the commission says, will significantly cut down on face-to-face interactions that have in the past been used to solicit bribes or influence decisions.
The Kisumu public participation event also provided a platform for the community to raise concerns and share recommendations on how the police recruitment process can be made more inclusive and credible.
Prof. Suda emphasised that the commission values input from citizens, as it helps ensure the regulations reflect the needs and expectations of the Kenyan public. She added that the NPSC will compile feedback from all forums held nationwide before finalising the 2025 recruitment regulations.
The move to update the recruitment framework comes at a time when the police service is under pressure to enhance professionalism, accountability, and public confidence. Analysts have noted that recruitment is a critical first step in shaping the quality and integrity of the police force, making it essential to ensure fairness from the outset.
If successfully implemented, the use of advanced technology is expected to set a precedent for other public recruitment processes in the country, further strengthening Kenya’s fight against corruption in public service hiring.
The NPSC will release further details on the timelines and procedures for the recruitment of the 10,000 officers once the draft regulations are finalised and formally adopted.
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