High Court nullifies police recruitment

The High Court has nullified the recruitment of over 10,000 police recruits and ordered the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to conduct the exercise afresh. 

High Court judge Isaac Lenaola granted the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) the orders it had sought to have the exercise nullified and bar the NPSC from issuing the recruits with appointment letters.

Justice Lenaola held that the delegation by the NPSC to Sub-County Recruitment Committees to carry out the recruitment exercise on July 14, was illegal and contravened the Constitution and the NPSC Act.

 "I am satisfied that drastic action ought to be taken, painful or unpopular as it may be. The action ought to be a lesson to the NPSC and other constitutional organs that the Constitution 2010 is alive," ruled Lenaola yesterday.

The judge stated that the the Constitution will resist all attempts to subvert its purpose.

"In the case, NPSC failed itself, failed Kenyans, failed the recruits and failed the Constitution and it must be told. The orders that are appropriate in the circumstances is an order quashing the recruitment exercise conducted on July 14 this year," said Lenaola.

The judge noted that the court was aware that with terrorist threats in the country, a strong police force was necessary and the court will not allow blatant breach of the Constitution by a body obligated to uphold the same.

The judge's decision affects Bomet Centre, Nyandarua, Tigoni East, Kangema, Kigumo, Nyeri, Narok, Kipkelion Centre,West Pokot among others.

NPSC Chairman Johnston Kavuludi nullified the results following an audit of 621 complaints by a multi-agency group on affected centers, a move that affected 1, 215 recruits.