MPs mull age cap for IG, term limits for deputies

A new, high-stakes bill before Parliament could redefine how top police chiefs are appointed if enacted into law.

The proposed National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to introduce a mandatory retirement age of 60 for both the Inspector-General (IG) and Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of the National Police Service.

In addition to the age cap, the bill also proposes term limits for the DIGs.

If passed, the bill sponsored by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya could lock out several senior officers eyeing the top jobs.

It remains unclear, however, whether it would apply to the current IG, Douglas Kanja, who assumed office despite being more than 60 years old.

The bill, currently before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security, seeks to address a gap in the existing law, which does not provide age limits for the top police leadership.

Lawmakers argue that this omission has created inconsistencies in appointments and undermined succession planning within the service.

At present, the National Police Service Act does not prescribe an age requirement for the IG or DIG, effectively exempting them from the Public Service Commission’s retirement threshold of 60 years, which applies to other public servants.

This loophole came into sharp focus during the vetting of IG Kanja.

If approved as proposed, the bill by Kaunya, who also sits on the Security Committee, would put the IG’s tenure under legal scrutiny.

Currently, the two deputy inspectors general, Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli, are 53 and 54 years old respectively.

The bill also introduces a fixed term for DIGs, who, like the IG, are currently exempt from the mandatory retirement age.

“The Deputy Inspector General shall be appointed for one term of five years and shall not be eligible for reappointment to the same position,” the draft law states.

It further provides that “the Deputy Inspector General may be removed before the expiry of the term”.

MP Kaunya argues that policing is a demanding profession requiring physical and mental fitness, and the amendment ensures that appointees are capable of handling the pressures of the role.

"Security work requires someone who is fit. While experience is valuable, we must not leave this gap unaddressed," Kaunya said.

“The bill seeks to ensure that persons appointed to the offices have the ability to handle demanding situations in the police service and to help balance between the need to retain experienced leadership and allow for succession planning within the service,” the bill’s memorandum reads.

In future, should the bill be approved, serving police officers of or above the rank of assistant inspector general with at least 15 years of service would qualify for appointment as DIGs.

The amendment, if carried, would align the police service with other public sector entities, where retirement at 60 is standard (65 for persons with disabilities).

Other checks would include whether the IG or DIG has a degree from a university recognised in Kenya, has a distinguished career in their respective fields, and meets the integrity threshold.

Knowledge of criminal justice, policy development and implementation, finance and public administration, strategic management, security, law, sociology and governance would be considered in the appointments.

The bill also proposes the timely replacement of deputy inspectors general.

“Whenever a vacancy arises in the Office of the Deputy Inspector-General, the President shall, on the recommendation of the National Police Service Commission, within 14 days from the date the vacancy arises, appoint a suitably qualified person to serve as Deputy Inspector-General,” the bill reads.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025, represents a critical step towards institutional reforms in the police service. By introducing age and term limits for top officials, it aims to balance experienced leadership with succession planning, while ensuring that physical and mental fitness are prioritised.