Police officers during a passout parade./FILE
The Ministry of Interior has outlined what personnel in the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service will earn once a 40 per cent salary increase is fully implemented.
The National Steering Committee on the implementation of reforms in the three services, chaired by Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo, announced on Wednesday that the reforms are being rolled out under a structured four-pillar transformation framework aimed at strengthening service delivery, professionalism and accountability.
The reform agenda focuses on institutional capacity development, operational preparedness and logistical capacity, oversight and accountability, and human resource management and development.
As part of efforts to improve welfare, terms and conditions of service, and staff development, the final phase of the salary increment for police, prisons and NYS officers will take effect in July 2026.
The committee said this marks the highest cumulative pay rise for officers over three consecutive years since independence.
“Police officers in the lower ranks are the main beneficiaries of the new salary structure directed by the President,” the team said in a statement.
Under the revised structure, a constable in the National Police Service will earn up to Sh57,700, up from Sh38,975 — a 48 per cent increase. The same cap applies to their counterparts in the Kenya Prisons Service.
Newly graduated constables will earn a starting salary of Sh29,296, up from Sh20,390 before July 2024, representing a 44 per cent increase.
NYS officers in the lowest cadre will earn a minimum of Sh26,222 and a maximum of Sh37,912, compared to the previous range of Sh19,800 to Sh32,315.
Once fully implemented, the highest-ranking police officer will earn a maximum monthly basic salary of Sh345,850, up from Sh289,090 — a 20 per cent rise.
The highest-paid officers in the Kenya Prisons Service will earn between Sh301,548 and Sh584,903, up from a previous range of Sh292,765 to Sh576,120. A similar adjustment applies to their counterparts in the NYS.
Officers began receiving phased increments from July 1, 2024, following the Government’s directive that the 40 per cent rise be implemented over three years.
According to the ministry, more than 50 per cent of the planned reforms have now been implemented. The National Police Service leads with 57.2 per cent overall implementation, while the Kenya Prisons Service and the NYS are progressing at comparable levels.
The salary review stems from recommendations by a task force chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga, which proposed a 40 per cent pay rise for officers.
After receiving the report, President William Ruto directed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to implement the adjustments. However, the rollout faced financial constraints, particularly during the Covid-19 period, with Sh15 billion required for full implementation.
The National Police Service Commission also rolled out the third remuneration review cycle for 2021–2025, setting the salary of a newly recruited constable at Sh21,645, with increments ranging from Sh1,255 to Sh9,439 depending on rank and years of service.
The Maraga report also raised concerns over the slow replacement of retiring officers. More than 1,000 officers exit the service annually due to retirement, death or dismissal.
While the task force had recommended recruiting 10,000 officers over two financial years — starting with 5,000 in the first year — the Budget Committee revised the figure to 2,862 recruits.
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