Police recruitment 'postponed until further notice' after court order

The police recruitment exercise that was scheduled to begin on Friday has been now postponed following a ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa on Thursday issued interim conservatory orders suspending the recruitment following an application filed on September 30, 2025.

The orders meant the recruitment process will remain frozen until the court makes a final determination on the petition.

The judge directed the respondents to file their responses within seven days. The petitioner will also have seven days to file a further affidavit and submissions.

Justice Wasilwa further fixed the matter for mention on October 21, 2025, to confirm compliance and for highlighting of submissions.

The National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, in a statement released on Thursday evening, said the exercise had been pushed forward to an indefinite date.

“In accordance with the Order of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, issued on 2nd October 2025 in Petition No. E196 of 2025 (Harun Mwau v. Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service Commission & 2 Others), the police recruitment exercise scheduled to commence on 3rd October 2025 has been postponed until further notice,” read the statement.

“The National Police Service, in conjunction with the National Police Service Commission, is actively pursuing appropriate legal remedies to ensure the recruitment exercise can resume at the earliest opportunity.”

NPSC advertised the recruitment of 10,000 police officers on September 19, 2025, following a long-standing standoff with the NPS.

The nationwide exercise was scheduled to run from October 3 to October 9, 2025, across 416 recruitment centres.