Police recruitment
Police Recruitment in Kenya (NPS): Current Status and How NPSC Recruits
The current status of National Police Service recruitment, checked with the National Police Service Commission, and how constable recruitment works.
Open rounds
Is police recruitment open now?
No. On 17 October 2026, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) vacancies page listed the recruitment of 5,000 police constables as closed, and we found no new constable advert for 2026 on npsc.go.ke. The last constable advert was published on 19 September 2025, with an addendum on 30 September 2025. The same NPSC vacancies page still shows an older Director of Criminal Investigations advert from 2022 as “open”. That advert is not a current recruitment round, so we have not listed it.
In September 2025, the NPSC adopted new recruitment regulations and a roadmap for recruiting 10,000 constables, delivered in stages. If a new intake is advertised, it will appear on npsc.go.ke first, and we will add it here with its own page.
Who recruits the police
The National Police Service is established by Article 243 of the Constitution and includes the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service. Article 246 creates the National Police Service Commission, which recruits and appoints people into the Service. Police jobs are therefore advertised by the NPSC, not by the Public Service Commission or by police stations. The NPSC also advertises civilian jobs in the Service and senior posts such as Deputy Inspector-General.
How constable recruitment works
Under the 2025 advert, application forms were available from Huduma Centres and the official websites (npsc.go.ke, nationalpolice.go.ke, kenyapolice.go.ke, administrationpolice.go.ke, dci.go.ke and mygov.go.ke). They could also be filled and downloaded at prs.npsc.go.ke. On recruitment day, candidates presented themselves at the designated centre in their constituency with originals and copies of:
- academic certificates and testimonials,
- their Kenya national ID card,
- their birth certificate, and
- a National Youth Service discharge certificate with a minimum conduct rating of “Good”, where applicable.
Physical fitness tests, medical checks and document verification were done on site, followed by training at the police colleges for those selected. Minimum KCSE grades, age limits and other conditions are set in each advert, so do not rely on old figures.
Recruitment is free: bribery is a crime
The NPSC advert warned that recruitment is free and that offering a bribe to influence it is a criminal offence under section 25 of the NPSC Act. It also warned that giving false information is an offence punishable by a fine of up to KSh 200,000, up to two years in prison, or both. It asked the public to report malpractice to the nearest police station or on 0709 099 000, 999, 911, 112, or the DCI’s #FichuaKwaDCI line, 0800 722 203. The NPSC counselling centre toll-free line is 0800 721 070.
Fraudsters target every police recruitment with fake “shortlists”, “medical fees” and promises of a slot for a payment. A genuine advert will be on npsc.go.ke and will never ask you to pay anyone. Our guide to fake job adverts covers the common tricks.
What you can do now
- Keep your KCSE certificate, ID, birth certificate and any NYS discharge papers safe and ready.
- Work on your fitness. Physical tests are part of selection day.
- Check the open rounds in other security and public bodies listed on this hub, such as county enforcement posts and KDF when it advertises.
- Sign up for free job alerts so you hear about new adverts quickly.