Payroll Wrangle Between NPSC and NPS Puts 10,000 Police Jobs at Risk

Nairobi, Kenya – The ongoing wrangle between the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the National Police Service (NPS) has reached a critical stage, with the recruitment plan for 10,000 new officers now hanging in the balance.

The dispute stems from a demand by civilian commissioners that the NPSC should take full control of the Ksh 60 billion police payroll, along with the authority over hiring, promotions, and transfers. This move, they argue, would align the NPSC’s role with other constitutional commissions like the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Public Service Commission (PSC).

“It should be the work of the commission to pay, recruit, and promote officers, just like the TSC or PSC. They do exactly what should be done by the NPSC,” one source familiar with the matter said.

However, some officers within the NPS have opposed the move, claiming that shifting payroll and promotion powers to the NPSC could disrupt the chain of command and politicize the service. The Kenya politics section has also picked up on the issue, as it mirrors broader debates about institutional independence in the country.

The outcome of this wrangle will be crucial for both the recruitment drive and the operational efficiency of the police service. With national security at stake, all eyes are on the government to resolve the standoff before it escalates further.