The High Court has stopped the National Police Service’s recruitment of 10,000 constables after activist Eliud Matindi filed a petition challenging the legality of the process.
The High Court has temporarily frozen the planned recruitment of 10,000 police constables by the National Police Service (NPS). In a ruling delivered on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order suspending the recruitment process until a pending petition is fully determined.
The ruling follows a case filed at the Milimani Law Courts by activist Eliud Matindi, who challenged the recruitment exercise announced by Inspector General Douglas Kanja on November 4. Justice Mwamuye ordered that all recruitment-related activities, including facilitation or implementation, cease immediately.
The judge further directed the petitioner to serve all relevant parties — including the state and NPS — with copies of the orders by November 12, warning that any disobedience would attract penal consequences.
This decision marks a major setback for the government’s plan to bolster police numbers before year-end. It also highlights growing legal uncertainty following conflicting rulings over who holds the power to recruit officers. Recently, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) lacks constitutional authority to recruit, vesting that responsibility solely in the NPS.
The NPS had assured Kenyans of a transparent process, outlining eligibility criteria such as being a Kenyan citizen aged 18–28 years, holding a KCSE grade of D+, and being physically and medically fit.
However, with the High Court’s decision, the fate of thousands of hopeful applicants remains unclear as the case proceeds to a full hearing.
