To be a police officer is a calling to serve Kenyans, Machakos police commander Issa Muhammud has said.
Mohammud said all that is required for those seeking to join the service is sacrifice.
The police boss spoke on Wednesday during a youth meeting ahead of the National Police Service recruitment exercise.
The countrywide recruitment is slated for March 24.
“Being a police officer is not easy and it’s also not hard,” he said.
Mohammud is hosting the National Police Service Commission secretariat at his office compound for two days.
The secretariat conducted a pre – recruitment clinic and career guidance to over 200 youths from six subcounties in Machakos.
He said the youths were drawn from Athi River, Mwala, Kathiani, Machakos, Matungulu and Kangundo subcounties.
Youths from Yatta and Masinga subcounties will attend the Thursday exercise on the final day.
Mohammud said the exercise which was launched in 2021, aims at educating potential candidates of the National Police Service.
The exercise he says will be conducted nationwide.
“The essence is to help the youth to make informed decisions and on expectations of the National Police Service,” Mohammud said.
He said the commission has conducted its own research and found it prudent to talk to the youth before the recruitment.
"We are also engaged as police officers and share our experiences with the youth,” Mohammud added.
The police boss said some police officers work only for two or three years before quitting the service.
This, he said is a blow to the NPS since training a single officer is expensive.
“We lose a lot of man power. So we are expected to assist them to make informed decisions, once someone settles on becoming a police officer,” Mohammud said.
He said they intend to talk to the youth extensively and provide answers to whatever questions they have.
The police boss said the youth were mobilised through local radio stations and provincial administrators including chiefs and village elders.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
