Power struggle at NPSC threatens recruitment of 10,000 police officers

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) is facing mounting internal tensions that threaten to derail the planned recruitment of 10,000 new police officers this September.

The standoff comes amid growing public scrutiny over the commission’s structure, mandate, and leadership, with concerns that a misunderstanding of roles is undermining operational independence.

The NPSC’s six-year-term commissioners include Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Gilbert Masengeli of the Administration Police Service (APS), and DIG Eliud Langat of the Kenya Police Service (KPS).

As custodians of institutional memory, they are responsible for operational continuity and strategic alignment. Day-to-day management of human resources and logistics falls under their mandate, while civilian commissioners oversee policy and governance.

However, a push by some civilian commissioners to take control of human resource functions — including the Ksh.60 billion police payroll and the authority to hire, promote, and transfer officers — has sparked resistance from the IG and his deputies. They argue that stripping these operational functions from the uniformed leadership would compromise efficiency, especially during emergencies and rapid deployments.

Advocate of the High Court Dr. Amos Omollo, speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak programme, defended the IG’s role in payroll management:

“Taking into account the security risks in the country, it is only right for the IG to have custody of the payroll. The IG makes emergency deployments and allowances, and taking away that custody would compromise operational issues which the IG is in charge of.”

The row intensified after allegations by the NPSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session that the IG had refused to hand over the payroll. Security analysts note that the CEO serves in an administrative role as secretary to the Commission and is not involved in operational or policy decisions.

EACC Chair Dr. David Oginde also weighed in on the Daybreak programme, warning that structural tensions need resolution:

“There are systemic relationship issues between the NPSC and the National Police Service that need to be addressed. The question is — how can they be structured for efficiency and effectiveness?”

The recruitment drive — the first in three years — was announced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen as a priority to address understaffing and strengthen police capacity. Any delays, security experts warn, could undermine public safety and leave critical police stations short-staffed.

As Kenya navigates a complex security environment, stakeholders agree that safeguarding the NPSC’s constitutional independence, clarifying roles, and depoliticizing the commission’s operations are essential for institutional stability and national security.