The National Police Service Commission(NPSC) has announced intentions to hire 25,000 new police officers over the course of five years.
According to Commission Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia, financial constraints have hampered recruitment efforts over the past two years.
He revealed these plans during a presentation to the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Internal Security.
Kinuthia revealed that over 10,000 officers have exited the service due to natural attrition, deployment, and retirement, emphasizing the need for new recruits.
The last major recruitment was in March 2022. The NPSC urged the committee to reconsider budget cuts in the security sector to ensure adequate funding for their operations.
Committee Chair Gabriel Togoyo acknowledged the importance of the security sector and pledged to review the budget amidst government austerity measures.
For the 2024/25 financial year, the National Treasury allocated Ksh377.5 billion for national security, with Ksh110.6 billion for the National Police Service. Additional funds were designated for police vehicle leasing and the National Forensic Laboratory.