High Court Stops Planned Recruitment of 10,000 Police Officers

Kenya, 10 November 2025 - The High Court has issued an order temporarily halting the planned recruitment of 10,000 police constables by the National Police Service (NPS), pending the outcome of a constitutional petition challenging the process.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, November 10, Justice Bahati Mwamuye granted a conservatory order suspending the ongoing recruitment exercise until the matter is heard and determined.

“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the petitioner’s application, a conservatory order is hereby issued suspending the Notice of Recruitment of Police Constables/Officers issued on November 4, 2025,” Justice Mwamuye directed in the ruling delivered at the Milimani Law Courts.

The case was filed by activist Eliud Matindi, who moved to court contesting the legality and fairness of the recruitment announced by Inspector General Douglas Kanja earlier this month.

The NPS had scheduled the national recruitment drive for November 17, 2025, targeting all sub-counties across Kenya. However, the court’s order now restrains the state, its agencies, and any other parties involved from proceeding with, supporting, or implementing the exercise until further notice.

Justice Mwamuye further directed the petitioner to serve all respondents and interested parties with copies of the petition, application, and court orders by November 12, and to file an affidavit confirming service. The court also issued a penal notice, warning that any breach of the orders would attract legal consequences.