Murkomen announces tougher measures for police recruitment

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced tougher measures for the next recruitment of police officers.

Murkomen, while applauding the National Police Service for dismissing 54 recruits from Kiganjo Police Training College over disciplinary and integrity issues, said the Service will enhance the recruitment process through stricter assessment of cognitive abilities and criminal records, as well as drug testing, to ensure only qualified and disciplined individuals are recruited.

“Recruitment processes must change, especially on psychometric assessment and drug testing. We will be tougher,” he said.

The CS was speaking at the National Police Training College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, during an assessment visit of the Recruits’ Basic Training Course.

He noted that the recruits are highly anticipated as they are expected to inject new energy into efforts to address security threats in the country, including dealing with criminal gangs and politically sponsored goons.

“The same politicians who were accusing the government over goons are today complaining because we deployed a few police officers to crack down on them. These recruits will be instrumental in the fight,” he said.

Murkomen also commended the standards of police training institutions in the country and said Kenya would benefit from establishing a National Police Service University that would serve the country and attract trainees from neighbouring countries and beyond.

“There is a huge appetite from our neighbours for our training facilities. We have a great opportunity if we establish a properly structured Police University in Kenya,” he said.

He was accompanied by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspector General (KPS) Eliud Lagat, Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha, and other senior government officials.