The National Police Service (NPS) is set to introduce a digital recruitment platform in a major step towards modernising Kenya’s law enforcement infrastructure, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has announced.
The online system, expected to be launched in the coming months, will allow applicants to submit their credentials, track progress, and receive updates through a central web portal.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration, Kanja said the digital shift is aimed at sealing loopholes in the current manual process that has been marred by fraud and inefficiencies.
“The overwhelming turnout at recruitment centers has led to numerous fraud cases, but this must stop,” Kanja stated. “An online system will close those gaps.”
Under the new system, only shortlisted applicants will be invited for physical evaluations, which is expected to reduce crowding and minimise opportunities for corruption during the recruitment process.
The Senate committee also raised concerns over ethnic imbalances within the police force. Kanja, accompanied by National Police Service Commission CEO Peter Leley, said the digital system would address such concerns by enforcing merit-based selection and equitable regional representation.
“Transparency and accountability are key to this system,” Leley noted. “It will also allow people to report fraud securely and help limit human interference.”
The move signals a significant overhaul of police recruitment procedures and is aimed at building public trust in the fairness and integrity of the process.
