Kenya Police Service recruitment requirements 2024

The Kenya Police Service is a national body in charge of law enforcement in Kenya. The Kenya police force was established as a British colonial police force in 1907. While organized at a national level, each arm reports to a County police Commander, which in turn divides its force by local Police Divisions headquartered at local police stations. All these element report to a Kenya Police Headquarters in Nairobi. The Kenya National Police Service is divided into three units; The Kenya Police Service, The Kenya Administrative Police Service and The Directorate Criminal Investigation.

Requirements to join The Kenya Police Service

Any individual who wishes to join the Kenya Police service must meet the following requirements.

1. Must be a Kenyan citizen at the time of recruitment (all Kenyan citizens may apply whether born in Kenya or not).
2. Applicant must be a National Identity card holder.
3. Age – between 18 and 28 years old for those with KCSE certification and up to 30 years old for those with diplomas or degrees in any field.
4. Be physically and mentally fit.
5. Height:
   • Men – 5 feet and 8 inches.
   • Women – 5 feet and 3 inches.
6. Possess a KCSE certificate at minimum as an academic qualification with at least a mean grade D+. The applicant must have at least a D+ in either English or Kiswahili.
7. Applicants must not have a criminal record or any criminal charges pending in court.
8. Female applicants should strictly not be pregnant at the time of recruitment and must remain without pregnancy for the duration of the training.
9. In addition to the requirements above, recruits should also be adherent to chapter six of the Kenyan constitution.
10. Applicants that possess any specialty or novice experience in the following fields are encouraged to apply:
    • Carpenters and Joiners
    • Cartographers
    • Clinical Officers
    • Draughtsmen
    • Electrical Assistants
    • Electronics Technicians
    • Fabricators
    • Foreign Languages Experts
    • Forensic Scientists
    • General Fitters
    • Hospitality (Caterers, Waiters, Housekeepers, Cooks, Laundry Operators)
    • ICT Experts
    • Laboratory Technicians
    • Librarians
    • Masons
    • Metal Workers
    • Motor Vehicle Mechanics
    • Motor Vehicle Panel Beaters
    • Musicians/Bandsmen
    • Nurses
    • Painters and Sign Writers
    • Pharmacists
    • Photographers
    • Plant Mechanics
    • Plant Operators
    • Plumbers
    • Sign Language Interpreters
    • Sportsmen/Women
    • Tailors
    • Vehicle Electricians
    • Veterinary Technicians
    • Video Editors
    • Videographers
    • Welders

Application forms

If an individual is satisfied that he/she meets all the Kenya Police recruitment requirements, they can proceed to fill the application form. These forms are available at any of the following locations:

1. Huduma Centres countrywide.
2. County Commissioner’s Offices.
3. Any police station.
4. Nearest Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) offices.
5. County Commissioner’s offices countywide.
6. Nearest Sub-County Administration Police Commander’s (SUBCOM) offices.
7. Alternatively these forms can also be downloaded from the following websites:
   • www.npsc.go.ke
   • www.administrationpolice.go.ke
   • www.nationalpolice.go.ke
   • www.cid.go.ke 
   • www.kenyapolice.go.ke
   • www.mygov.go.ke

Application submission

Having duly filled the application forms. The applicant can submit the application forms in duplicate, accompanied by the following documents:

1. A copy of the applicant’s Birth Certificate.
2. A copy of the Kenya National ID.
3. Police Clearance Certificate.
4. Copies of the academic certificates and testimonials.

Note:

• Applicants are required to present themselves at the recruitment center they have chosen on their NPSC application form with the Kenya police application forms in hand. Applicants will also be required to present original supporting documents for verification which will be returned to the applicants before they leave the recruitment centre.
• Under the National Police Service Commission Act, any person that provides the commission with false information or misleading information knowingly and willfully has committed an offense and liable to a fine of up to Ksh 200,000 or to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years. A culprit may also face both penalties. These guidelines apply to the provision of information in the requirements above. Anyone that provides false academic certificates, canvases directly or otherwise or attempts to corrupt the recruitment process shall be disqualified and be arrested and convicted.

Selection criteria

Candidates will be selected basis on varies factors:

1. Academic qualification
2. Height
3. Physical fitness
4. Good vision
5. General health

Note:

• Once a candidate is selected, they immediately become bonded to serve under the command of the National Police Service Commission for a minimum of ten (10) years before they can leave the service. With exception that; in the course of their service they become declared unfit to serve in the service either by way of physical disability, medical condition, insanity or corruption charges that may guarantee discharge of the officer in question.

Training

After successful recruitment, the recruits will need to specify which service they would like to join, either the Administration Police and the Kenya Police Service. They will then report to the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo. The recruits will undergo a 15-month rigorous physical training and class room learning. This duration includes a 3-month compulsory internship. 

The officers completing this training will graduate with a diploma that equips them in various fields including; Customer Care, Disaster Management, Resource Management and Planning, Judicial procedure, Psychology, Criminology, Education, Cyber Crime, Information Security management, Research Methodology, Human Rights and Safety.