The much-anticipated recruitment of 10,000 police officers almost collapsed following a serious dispute between two senior leaders in the National Police Service. The disagreement involved Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairperson Dr. Amani Komora, who clashed over who had the legal mandate to oversee the recruitment exercise.
The standoff stalled the process, despite President William Ruto’s directive for the urgent hiring of new officers. Tensions escalated as letters were exchanged between the IG and NPSC officials, with the commission at one point announcing it was withdrawing powers previously delegated to the IG.
Resolution came only after hours of intensive negotiations, which stretched late into the night. Top government officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, intervened to mediate the dispute. Their behind-the-scenes efforts paved the way for a compromise.
A breakthrough was finally reached during a full commission meeting held at NPSC headquarters in Nairobi, ending close to midnight last Thursday. Under the agreement, responsibilities will now be shared: the IG and his team will oversee the technical aspects of recruitment, including competence checks, while the NPSC will provide oversight.
To ensure smooth operations, this year’s recruitment will take place over six days, from October 3 to October 9, instead of the traditional single-day process. However, not all issues were resolved—the question of who controls the police payroll remains unsettled. For now, the IG will continue managing payroll functions, with the commission retaining access when necessary.
With the compromise in place, the recruitment exercise will proceed as planned, giving thousands of young Kenyans the opportunity to join the police service and serve their country. The episode highlights both the importance of clear legal mandates within national institutions and the critical role of high-level mediation in resolving administrative disputes.
