Kenyan police officers are smiling all the way to the bank after the government rolled out a revised pay structure in July 2024, granting them a 40% salary increment.
The review by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) covers members of the National Police Service, prison wardens, and the National Youth Service (NYS).
According to the new structure:
- New recruits (constables) earn KES 25,645 monthly.
- Police cadets take home around KES 38,900.
- DCI officers and other specialists pocket close to KES 61,000.
- Prison staff earn between KES 16,890 and KES 55,110, depending on rank.
- At the top, the Inspector General of Police now earns between KES 310,725 and KES 409,365.
The salaries are linked to job groups (F–S), with pay based on rank, experience, and progression.
However, disputes remain over graduate police constables demanding higher pay. The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) insists that academic qualifications alone do not guarantee a bigger salary, a stance upheld by the courts.
The government has also digitized police recruitment, with all applications now processed online to enhance fairness and curb corruption.
The move is being hailed as a major policy shift, expected to boost morale, professionalize the force, and address long-standing welfare concerns.