The planned recruitment of 10,000 new police officers has been thrown into uncertainty after a Nairobi-based lobby moved to court seeking to block the exercise.
The organisation, Sheria Mtaani, together with lawyer Shadrack Wambui, filed an application on September 9, 2025, asking the High Court to stop the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service from proceeding.
At the centre of the case is a constitutional row over who has the mandate to manage the police payroll, the Inspector General or the National Police Service Commission. The petitioners argue that until this question is resolved, the recruitment cannot lawfully take place.
They maintain that payroll management is not simply about paying salaries but is a vital human resource tool.
According to their petition, it underpins decisions on recruitment, promotions, transfers, interdictions, suspensions, and disciplinary measures. “Any change to its custody or management has far-reaching implications,” reads part of the documents filed in court.
The group warns that allowing the recruitment to continue would undermine the pending case. “If recruitment proceeds before this question is determined, payroll entries for the 10,000 recruits will be made under an authority whose constitutional mandate is in dispute, thereby prejudicing the role of the Commission,” the filing says.
The records show that the petition was filed on August 11 and the court ordered it be served within three days. Service was completed on August 14, but the respondents and other parties have yet to file responses despite being directed to do so within seven days. Sheria Mtaani argues that this leaves their case unchallenged.
In their fresh application, they insist the matter must be treated as urgent to safeguard the constitutional mandate of the Police Service Commission.
“It is in the interest of justice that this matter be certified urgent, heard on a priority basis, and conservatory orders issued as prayed to prevent constitutional infringement,” they state.
The application adds another twist to the ongoing standoff within the policing system, coming only days after the National Police Service and the Commission announced that they had agreed to ease tensions and work jointly for the public good.
