PS Omollo urges youths to turn up in large numbers in police recruitment drive
By Nancy Marende, August 7, 2025Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo has called on young Kenyans to take full advantage of the upcoming nationwide police recruitment exercise, as the government seeks to enlist 10,000 new officers to bolster national security and public safety.
In a statement on August 7, 2025, PS Omollo encouraged the youth to prepare diligently and ensure they meet all the requirements, describing the recruitment as a noble opportunity to serve the country with honour and discipline.
“We encourage our young people to take this opportunity seriously, prepare diligently, meet the requirements and present themselves in large numbers. This is a noble calling to serve and protect the nation with honour, discipline and integrity,” he stated.
Recruitment guidelines
His remarks come a few weeks after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen detailed changes that will be implemented in the upcoming police recruitment exercise.
Addressing community leaders in West Pokot County on July 20, 2025, the CS explained that the newly introduced rules will not only ensure fairness but will also eliminate corruption and restore public trust in the process.
The changes cut across several stages of the recruitment process, with the inclusion of new stakeholders, and come with a longer recruitment period.
To minimise opportunities for malpractices that often occur in the dark, according to Murkomen, all recruitment activities must end by 4:00 pm.
He shared past concerns raised about successful candidates being shortchanged by corrupt elements without being given any clear explanation on why they are being kicked out or being asked for bribes disguised as “medical letters”.
Murkomen also noted that the practice of medical tests being conducted at the recruitment venue has been presenting opportunities for malpractices, with those involved milking money in the form of bribes from applicants.
Moving forward, tests will be conducted at the police training school where those conducting them are not in direct contact with applicants to reduce the temptation for those involved in the exercise to ask for bribes and ensure fairness.
Independent observers will also be included in police recruitment exercises to verify the results and ensure fairness.
Furthermore, religious leaders, civil society, and community representatives will be deployed at every recruitment centre to monitor every stage of the process and verify the results.