The High Court has stopped the planned recruitment of 10,000 police constables by the National Police Service (NPS). The court issued a temporary order, also known as a conservatory order, stopping the exercise until a case challenging the process is heard and decided.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, November 10, by Justice Bahati Mwamuye. The judge said the court had found it necessary to stop the recruitment for now to prevent any possible injustice or violation of the law.
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The case was filed by a group of petitioners who claim that the recruitment process announced by the NPS was not fair and did not follow the Constitution. They argued that the process lacked transparency and could favor certain regions or individuals. The petitioners also said that the recruitment notice failed to clearly show how equal opportunity would be ensured for all qualified Kenyans.
Justice Mwamuye said that since the case raises serious legal questions, the recruitment should not continue until the court hears both sides. “It is important to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and in line with the law before it proceeds,” the judge stated.
The National Police Service had earlier announced that it planned to recruit 10,000 new officers to fill gaps in the service and improve security across the country. The exercise was set to take place later this month in all counties.
However, following the court order, the NPS must stop all recruitment activities, including shortlisting and interviews, until the court gives further directions.
The suspension is a setback to the government’s plan to boost the number of police officers and strengthen security operations. Many Kenyans who had hoped to apply for the positions will now have to wait for the court’s final decision.
The case will be mentioned later this month for further directions on how it will proceed.
