Kenya recruitment · 4 min read
Police recruitment in Kenya: requirements, the last intake and the court rulings
The requirements in the Inspector General's advert for the November 2025 constable intake, the court rulings that put recruitment under the Inspector General, and how to prepare for the next intake.
Police constable recruitment is one of the largest public intakes in Kenya. In 2025 the Commission's advert was struck down in court and the Inspector General ran the intake instead. Here are the requirements as last advertised, what the courts decided, and the documents to have ready, all from the official texts.
The requirements last advertised
The Inspector General advertised the last national intake on 31 October 2025, for recruitment on Monday 17 November 2025 at centres across the country. The advert set these entry requirements:
- Kenyan citizen holding a Kenya National Identity Card.
- Age 18 to 28.
- KCSE mean grade of at least D+, with at least D+ in English or Kiswahili.
- Physically and medically fit.
- Minimum height 5 ft 8 in for men and 5 ft 3 in for women.
- No criminal record or pending criminal charges. Women must not be pregnant at recruitment or during training.
Applicants downloaded the application form from the National Police Service, Kenya Police, Administration Police, DCI or MyGov websites, or collected one at a Huduma Centre. On the day they went to a listed recruitment centre with originals and copies of academic certificates and testimonials, national ID, birth certificate and, where applicable, an NYS discharge certificate rated at least Good in conduct. Original documents were returned before they left.
The advert listed 422 centres by county and sub-county. An addendum added the NYS headquarters in Ruaraka for former NYS members, who could also go to their home centre.
Who recruits police constables
The National Police Service Commission first advertised a constable intake on 19 September 2025. On 30 October 2025 the Employment and Labour Relations Court, in Mwau v Inspector General, National Police Service and others, declared that recruitment, training and employment of members of the service fall under the independent command of the Inspector General. It declared recruitment advertised by the Commission null and void, declared Legal Notice No. 159 of 2025 unconstitutional and permanently stayed the Commission's advert.
The next day, 31 October 2025, the Inspector General advertised the intake for 17 November 2025 in the Daily Nation, the Standard and the Star.
On 16 October 2026 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals by the Commission and the Law Society of Kenya in full. It explained that sworn members of the service are recruited under the Inspector General, while the Commission recruits the civilian staff of the service, such as administrative, ICT, medical and accounting staff.
In early November 2026 the National Police Service careers page said coming soon, with no new constable advert. For the next intake, rely only on a notice from the National Police Service's official channels and the national newspapers.
Prepare in advance
- Keep your national ID, birth certificate, KCSE certificate and school testimonials in one folder, with copies.
- Train for the physical tests well before the date.
- Find the recruitment centre for your sub-county in the advert as soon as it is published.
- Get a certificate of good conduct early if the notice asks for one.
Recruitment is free
The 2025 advert stated that recruitment is free and open to all eligible candidates, that bribery or other corrupt practices to influence it are a criminal offence, and that anyone who gives false or misleading information will be prosecuted. It asked the public to report malpractice at the nearest police station, on the toll-free lines 999, 911 and 112, or to #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203.
Recruitment into the disciplined services is free. Anyone who asks you for money to secure a place is committing an offence, and so are you if you pay.
Sources and further reading
- National Police Service: advertisement for recruitment of police constables, 31 October 2025 (archived copy of the official PDF)
- National Police Service: addendum to the constable recruitment advert, November 2025 (archived copy of the official PDF)
- Mwau v Inspector General, National Police Service & 3 others [2025] KEELRC 2951 (KLR), judgment of 30 October 2025
- National Police Service Commission & another v Mwau & 7 others [2026] KECA 2244 (KLR), Court of Appeal judgment of 16 October 2026
- National Police Service: careers
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Frequently asked questions
What are the requirements to join the police in Kenya?
In the last national advert, by the Inspector General on 31 October 2025: Kenyan citizen aged 18 to 28 with a national ID, KCSE D+ with D+ in English or Kiswahili, at least 5 ft 8 in for men and 5 ft 3 in for women, fit, and no criminal record.
Who recruits police constables in Kenya?
The Inspector General of the National Police Service. The Employment and Labour Relations Court held so on 30 October 2025, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision on 16 October 2026. The Commission recruits civilian staff of the service.
When is the next police recruitment in Kenya?
No date had been announced by early November 2026. The last intake was advertised on 31 October 2025, with recruitment set for 17 November 2025.
Do I pay to join the police?
No. The recruitment is free, and paying or taking money to influence it is an offence.