NPSC warns public against fake police constable advertisements

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has alerted Kenyans about counterfeit police recruitment notices being shared on social media. The Commission clarified that no openings for police constables have been formally announced.

NPSC Chairperson Amani Yuda Komora said the official recruitment process is still being prepared and will be communicated through proper channels.

Komora urged the public to disregard the fake advert, which redirected applicants to an unauthorised online link.

“The Commission advises members of the public to remain vigilant and disregard any misinformation intended to mislead and exploit unsuspecting applicants,” he said, adding that verified information will only appear on the Commission’s official website, verified social media pages, and mainstream media.

Addressing the national Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, NPSC Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley assured lawmakers that the upcoming recruitment will be conducted fairly, transparently, and without favouritism.

“We have independent observers to ensure compliance and avoid malpractices. We are also leveraging digital tools for applications and candidate verification to minimise human errors, while ensuring gender balance, regional equity, and ethnic diversity,” Leley said.

Leley also said the exercise will focus on including marginalised and underrepresented communities. “The recruitment is in search of underrepresented and marginalised communities to promote inclusivity in a bid to strengthen the formula and legitimacy,” he stated.

Under new procedures, the Commission aims to hire 10,000 police constables, with all applications submitted online for the first time. Of these, 4,000 places are reserved for National Youth Service graduates. The reforms follow criticism of previous recruitment exercises over bribery, nepotism, and partiality.

Coordination between NPSC and the National Police Service (NPS) has faced disputes over who should manage the process and whether it should be digital or manual. The original advertisement was set for September 11, with successful applicants expected to start training on November 17.

Leley pointed out that funding is a key challenge, revealing the Commission has received only Sh75 million of the required Sh395 million. “The budget for recruitment was directly allocated to the NPS, confirmed by the National Treasury. This shortfall and misallocation severely undermine the Commission’s ability to independently and effectively discharge its recruitment mandate,” he explained.

Inspector General Douglas Kanja assured the public that both bodies remain committed to working together. “First of all, let me assure the country that the NPS and NPSC work together. Very soon we are going to carry out the recruitment. Once we agree, we will release the dates and roadmap,” he said.

Leley further noted that delegating recruitment and appointment powers to the Inspector General under Section 10(2) of the NPSC Act has previously led to misuse. “The National Taskforce on the Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service highlighted that improper delegation amounted to abdication of the Commission’s constitutional mandate,” he said.

Komora called for collaboration to resolve remaining issues, emphasizing that resolving the disputes will benefit the public.