10,000 new police officers to bolster security ahead of 2027 polls

National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security Committee chairman Gabriel Tongoyo and DIG Eliud Lang’at during a rehearsal for the passing-out parade of 10,000 police recruits at Kiganjo, Nyeri County. [Amos Kiarie]

The National Police Service is set to deploy 10,000 newly trained officers as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election, in a move expected to strengthen security operations and address a staffing shortage that has persisted for years.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lang’at said the recruits, who will pass out at the National Police Service Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on August 28, would help bridge gaps created by inadequate recruitment and natural attrition.

The announcement comes as security agencies and Parliament turn their attention to emerging threats ahead of the 2027 elections, including the proliferation of firearms and criminal gangs.

National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security Committee chairman Gabriel Tongoyo and DIG Eliud Lang’at during a rehearsal for the passing-out parade of 10,000 police recruits at Kiganjo, Nyeri County. [Amos Kiarie]

Mr Lang’at said the additional officers would increase the police service’s capacity to respond to security challenges across the country.

“We are happy that we will be injecting another good number of police officers into our national security architecture,” he said.

He spoke on Friday during a rehearsal for the passing-out parade attended by members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on National Administration and Internal Security, who were on a budget implementation oversight visit to the college.

The committee chairman, Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, said the recruitment was long overdue, noting that the country had gone four years without recruiting new police officers.

He said natural attrition over the period had created a significant staffing gap within the service.

Mr Tongoyo said the new officers had also been trained to deal with emerging forms of crime, including cybercrime, giving the police greater capacity to respond to modern security threats.

“I have no doubt in my mind, having seen what these officers have been trained to do, including tackling modern-day challenges such as cybercrime, that we are going to see a totally different change in matters of security in the country,” he said.

However, the committee chairman raised concern over the alleged involvement of politicians in financing criminal gangs, warning that such groups could pose a serious security threat as the country heads into the 2027 political season.

Mr Tongoyo said the committee would seek answers from the Ministry of Interior and the National Police Service when it meets officials on Tuesday.

“It is true, absolutely true. What you are seeing in the country — these gangs, criminal groupings — are almost entirely, if not all, being sponsored by politicians,” he said.

He challenged police to take action against individuals found to be financing or facilitating criminal gangs regardless of their political connections.

The allegations come as political activity begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, raising concerns over the potential use of criminal groups to disrupt political meetings or intimidate opponents.

Mr Lang’at said the police had put strategies in place to address insecurity linked to firearms and organised criminal groups.

He urged political, religious and community leaders, as well as young people, to work with security agencies in tackling criminal gangs.

The DIG also rejected claims that police officers were involved in disrupting political meetings or other forms of violence, insisting that the service would enforce the law without favour.

“Our laws and security procedures require that all of us deal with these criminal gangs as per the law. There is no complication by any security officers,” he said.

Mr Lang’at said maintaining security was not solely the responsibility of the police and called for greater cooperation between communities and security agencies.

He said the National Police Service had a fully-fledged Directorate of Community Policing headed by Assistant Inspector-General Judy Chibet, whose mandate includes strengthening cooperation between the police and the public.

“We want to see the police work closely with the community,” he said, calling for increased public vigilance and cooperation with security agencies.

Beyond recruitment, Parliament is also pushing for increased funding for police operations and modernisation.

Mr Tongoyo said only about 19 per cent of the police budget had previously been allocated to operations, but the committee had pushed for the share to rise to 25 per cent in the current financial year.

He said Parliament had also backed the acquisition of modern equipment, which he credited with helping security agencies respond to insecurity in parts of the North Rift, northern Kenya and the Kerio Valley.

The committee is also pushing for improvements in police welfare, including better housing, salaries, social support and working conditions.

Mr Tongoyo said Parliament was engaging the Ministry of Housing on ways of providing better accommodation for officers through the affordable housing programme.

He added that the committee was also concerned about improving officers' morale and working environment, including provision of better uniforms.

The parliamentary committee's visit to Kiganjo was aimed at assessing the implementation of funds allocated to the police and engaging the college's leadership, instructors and trainees on challenges facing police training.

The 10,000 recruits will formally join the National Police Service after their August 28 passing-out parade, adding a significant number of officers to the country's security architecture at a time when preparations for the 2027 General Election are gaining momentum.