Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has appealed to the Judiciary to reconsider a court order that halted the ongoing police recruitment exercise.
Murkomen stressed that the country urgently needs more officers to safeguard its security.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Nairobi moments after the ruling, Murkomen admitted that the process had been stopped through a court order.
He, however, expressed hopefulness that the matter would be resolved quickly.
“I am aware there was a legal process in court, and one of the judges has given an order to stop the recruitment process. I believe that will be sorted. I wish I could call the judge directly to understand the consequences of such an order stopping recruitment of police, something that has never happened in the last four years,” Murkomen said.
The CS emphasised that the recruitment of new officers was not a matter of convenience but of national urgency.
He pointed out that many police officers had retired or passed on, creating critical gaps in the service that could undermine the country’s ability to secure its borders and maintain order.
“We need to replace those officers and bring in energetic recruits who can be trained on time, even to help us support the next elections. This is not just about filling numbers, it is about securing our country,” he explained.
Murkomen urged the Judiciary to apply reason and consider the security implications of delaying the exercise.
He noted that while he respected the courts, he hoped that the judge handling the case would reflect on the wider national interest.
“I hope the judge will watch my speech so that I don’t need to call her, and will apply reason to make sure that the process is reopened very quickly. Our country needs these police officers badly,” Murkomen added.
The recruitment exercise was to officially commence tomorrow, October 3, in various counties.
The government has been keen to expand the police service in line with rising security demands and population growth.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa stopped the exercise in a ruling issued today, Thursday, following a petition filed by John Harun Mwau against the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
According to the court documents, an interim conservatory order was issued, staying the entire recruitment process until the petition is fully resolved.
"Interim conservatory order is hereby issued, staying the entire recruitment pending resolution of the Petition," the court stated in its ruling.
The order directs the IG and NPSC to file their response within seven days, while the petitioner is allowed the same period to file further affidavits and submissions.
The court also scheduled the next mention on October 21, 2025, to confirm compliance and address highlighted submissions.
Notably, the court order comes just days after the Constitutional High Court in Milimani approved the withdrawal of a separate petition filed by civil society group Sheria Mtaani and activist Shadrach Wambui, which had also sought to suspend the nationwide police recruitment.
The petition had sought conservatory orders restraining the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the NPS from proceeding with the recruitment exercise.
The group argued that the exercise cannot go ahead while a constitutional dispute over payroll management remains unresolved.
The petitioners, however, later informed the court that they had received overwhelming appeals from young people urging them to drop the matter.
Appearing before Justice Lawrence Mugambi at Milimani High Court on September, their lawyer Danstan Omari said they had received more than 20,000 calls and messages from youth and parents across the country requesting the withdrawal.
“Many young people had already travelled to recruitment centres using limited resources,” the petitioners submitted, noting that blocking the exercise would not serve the public interest.
The recruitment of 10,000 police constables in the national exercise was set to start on October 3 to 9, 2025.
The National Police Service Commission met the joint recruitment panels at the Administration Police College, Embakasi "A" Campus for a comprehensive briefing ahead of the exercise.
Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, reiterated the Service's commitment to conducting a credible and transparent recruitment exercise.
He urged the officers taking part in the exercise to ensure the integrity of the process by shunning corrupt practices, which will strengthen public trust in the National Police Service.
