Court Suspends Police Recruitment Over Alleged Constitutional Violations

The High Court has put a temporary halt to the National Police Service’s (NPS) plan to recruit 10,000 new police constables, citing a pending constitutional challenge to the process.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued a conservatory order stopping the recruitment exercise until the petition before the court is heard and determined. The decision effectively suspends the notice of recruitment issued on November 4 by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

“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 her ruling at the Milimani Law Courts.

The order followed a petition filed by activist Eliud Matindi, who is challenging the legality of the recruitment drive. Matindi argues that the process contravenes constitutional provisions and the National Police Service Act, alleging that it lacks transparency, fairness, and accountability. He urged the court to intervene before any recruitment could proceed, warning that failure to do so could amount to the violation of public trust and the rule of law.

The suspension now places the highly anticipated recruitment exercise on hold, disrupting plans to boost police numbers amid ongoing national security demands. The court is set to determine whether the NPS adhered to constitutional and legal standards in designing the recruitment process, and whether Matindi’s petition warrants a permanent injunction.

The ruling marks yet another instance in which the courts have intervened in major public service recruitment processes, underscoring the judiciary’s growing scrutiny over adherence to constitutional and administrative fairness.