A Nairobi court has thrown a wrench into plans to recruit 10,000 new police officers, halting the exercise just a day before it was set to kick off.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court issued a temporary order in response to a petition by John Harun Mwau, raising legal questions over the process and requiring all recruitment activities to pause until the matter is fully resolved.
Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa delivered the ruling on Thursday, October 2, 2025, issuing an interim conservatory order that stops the entire recruitment.
"Interim conservatory order is hereby issued, staying the entire recruitment pending resolution of the Petition," the court stated.
Both the Inspector General and the National Police Service Commission are required to submit their responses within seven days, while the petitioner may file additional affidavits in the same timeframe.
The court set the next mention for October 21, 2025, to verify compliance and hear further submissions.
The ruling comes shortly after a separate petition by civil society group Sheria Mtaani and activist Shadrach Wambui was withdrawn. The petitioners said appeals from young Kenyans who had already travelled to recruitment centres influenced their decision.
“Many young people had already travelled to recruitment centres using limited resources,” explained lawyer Danstan Omari. He added that halting the recruitment at that stage would have harmed the public interest.
Preparations for the nationwide exercise had been underway, with joint recruitment panels meeting at the Administration Police College in Embakasi for briefings.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja stressed the need for integrity, reminding officers that a transparent process is essential for public confidence. “Ensuring the integrity of this exercise is critical to strengthening public trust in the National Police Service,” he said.
The recruitment aims to replace officers who have passed away, bolster the police force, and prepare for the 2027 general elections. With the court order in place, the start of the exercise remains uncertain, pending resolution of the petition.