The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) will roll out an online police recruitment system in the next recruitment exercise.
NPSC Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley said the action is a result of the changes and reforms being undertaken by the Commission.
Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration, he said the recruitment system is secure, fast and efficient.
“Every Kenyan deserves a police service they can trust; one that is built on merit, fairness, and integrity. As we continue the journey to transform public service in our country, one truth stands out loud and clear: we must embrace automation in how we recruit our police officers,” Leley said.
Since independence, police recruitment has been conducted manually, with thousands of young energetic Kenyans turning out in their thousands accompanied by their families to try their luck. But the process has been heavily used for corruption and other malpractices, Leley observed.
“It is no secret that this outdated approach has made it difficult for many Kenyans, especially those in rural areas to access equal opportunities to serve. More importantly, it risks eroding public trust in one of our country’s most critical institutions,” the CEO said.
He said the commission plans to roll out the Police Recruitment System (PRS), a secure, digital platform that is expected to transform how new officers are brought into the National Police Service (NPS).
“The PRS is more than a system; it is a solution. Through real-time data checks, automated shortlisting, and digital scoring, the PRS removes the guesswork and human bias that often cloud recruitment.
“It allows applicants to apply online, track their progress, and receive timely updates, all from the comfort of their homes,” he said.
He explained that in every recruitment cycle, the government spends millions on printing forms, transporting documents, and paying allowances for manual verifications.
But by going digital, these costs are slashed significantly, he said, adding that the system will also help to streamline medical assessments, making them more consistent and affordable.
He said the digital nature of the system will make accountability and transparency in recruitment easy.
“The system will eliminate face-to-face interactions that could open the door to corruption, and replacing them with secure, role-based access and real-time audit trails is a game changer for transparency,” he said.
The move supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), particularly under the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy pillar. It also aligns with the Maraga Taskforce’s recommendations for modernizing the police service,” Leley said.
He said the commission plans to expand automation to cover other HR processes like promotions, transfers, disciplinary matters, and officer welfare.
“Our goal is clear: a fully integrated, digital human resource system for the entire police service. The system intends to give every qualified Kenyan a fair shot, restoring faith in our recruitment process, and ensuring that the men and women who wear the badge are there because they earned it,” the CEO said.
He added that the Commission plans to undertake a nationwide stakeholders’ participation, sensitization and training exercise on the new system.
