IG Kanja: Police Recruitment to Go Online to Curb Corruption

Nairobi, Kenya – Inspector General Douglas Kanja has revealed that future police recruitment exercises will be conducted online to combat corruption and promote transparency in the hiring process.

Speaking before the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration on Friday, May 9, Kanja explained that digital recruitment would help restore public trust and close loopholes commonly exploited during past drives.

“The number of applicants is always overwhelming. The corruption in police recruitment must come to an end, and the way to fix that is by embracing technology. Once we go digital, we close the gaps,” Kanja told the committee.

Why the Shift to Online Recruitment?

Kanja stated that online applications would eliminate bribery, nepotism, and favoritism–issues that have plagued past recruitments. The National Police Service (NPS) hopes the new method will ensure only qualified candidates progress through the selection process.

Read also:NPS Clarifies Police Recruitment Notice as Fake

This upcoming exercise will be the first nationwide recruitment since 2021, ending a three-year freeze that Kanja attributed to budgetary constraints.

Gender and Ethnic Diversity Still a Concern

The IG acknowledged that the NPS has not met the constitutionally required 30% female representation. He, however, declined to provide full details on ethnic imbalances, citing national security sensitivity.

“We are focused on ensuring a fair and inclusive process,” he said, noting that ethnic balance and gender representation remain priority concerns.

The proposed online system is expected to roll out later this year, with details to be announced by the Interior Ministry and the NPS through official channels such as thestar.co.ke.

— Reporting by The Star News