Budget setbacks cast doubt on online police recruitment drive

National Police Service Commission (NPSC) CEO Peter Leley appears before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration on May 9. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Questions are emerging over the fate of police recruitment exercise this year, with the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) now revealing that budget constraints will determine the viability of the exercise.

Speaking in Nairobi, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to shifting police recruitment from the traditional physical model to a digitised system aimed at curbing corruption, improving efficiency, and reducing logistical costs.

However, the commission admitted that the successful implementation of the new online model hinges on budget allocations currently under review by Parliament.

"The recruitment system has largely removed human interaction and automated major parts so that integrity can be enhanced. For instance, it will be online recruitment. We have addressed concerns such as internet access in remote areas by establishing pre-recruitment clinics," said NPSC Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley.

Leley described the shift as a major reform designed to eliminate the face-to-face interface between applicants and recruitment officers, which has historically been linked to bribery and favouritism.

"Before we go out there, we will strictly identify responsible officers and train them intensively on ethics and anti-corruption policies. This, we believe, will significantly reduce malpractice," he added.

He said the commission had bolstered the system's capacity to handle large volumes of applications and implemented cybersecurity safeguards.

"We have ensured there is sufficient fire-walling to prevent hacking and upgraded the system to accommodate heavy data inflows without slowdowns," he said.

The new system, dubbed the Police Recruitment System (PRS), will manage the entire process - from applications and shortlisting to assessments and final appointments - removing the need for paperwork.

Acting NPSC Chairperson Edwin Cheluget said, "We are consulting stakeholders and lobbying Parliament for sufficient funding. This will be a game changer."

Cheluget also revealed that interviews are underway for the promotion of 132 senior officers. Those shortlisted recently completed six months of leadership training in Kiganjo and Emali.