Police IG Doughlas Kanja /FILE
The Senate has summoned Police IG Douglas Kanja and top National Police Service officials to explain the alleged expulsion of 18 female recruits from the National Police College in Kiganjo.
The matter sparked outrage in the House after nominated Senator Veronica Maina demanded answers from the Senate’s Security committee over what she termed a discriminatory and unconstitutional decision.
Speaking in the Senate, Maina said the expulsions reflected “a deeply concerning lack of gender sensitivity and institutional responsiveness towards women, particularly expectant mothers seeking opportunities in public service and professional advancement.”
“Pregnancy is neither misconduct nor incapacity and motherhood must never be construed as a disqualification from service, leadership or employment,” she said.
The senator, who chairs the Kenya Women Senators Association, argued that the decision sends “a disturbing and regressive message that women are still expected to choose between their biological realities and their aspirations to serve this nation.”
The recruits were reportedly removed from training under existing NPS regulations that classify pregnancy as incompatible with the physically demanding police training programme.
However, the move has ignited a national debate on discrimination against women in public institutions.
The lawmakers and women leaders are questioning whether the regulations violate constitutional protections on equality and labour rights.
Maina cited Articles 27, 28 and 41, which guarantee equality, human dignity and fair labour practices, saying the police service must align its policies with modern constitutional standards.
“The continued implementation of such policies and practices that disproportionately disadvantage women demonstrates the urgent need for stronger gender-sensitive reforms within the National Police Service and across the public service,” she told the House.
The Senate committee has now been tasked with assessing the legality of the regulations used to expel the recruits.
The panel, chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, will also determine whether the regulations are consistent with the constitution and Kenya’s international obligations on women’s rights and gender equality.
Senators also want the police service to explain whether it has considered adopting gender-responsive recruitment and training policies that can reasonably accommodate pregnant recruits without locking them out of careers in law enforcement.
The committee is further expected to investigate safeguards in place to prevent discrimination against women in public institutions based on pregnancy or maternal status.
Kewosa has also demanded that the affected recruits be allowed to resume training after giving birth.
The expulsions have drawn criticism from women's rights groups and leaders who argue that the policy unfairly punishes women for pregnancy while ignoring the broader issue of equality in employment opportunities.
Some lawmakers have compared the situation to reforms in other disciplined forces and institutions where maternity protections and deferred training programmes have been introduced to support women employees.
Human rights campaigners say the policy reflects outdated institutional practices that fail to appreciate the constitutional gains made in advancing women’s rights since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
The controversy now places pressure on the NPS leadership, including IG Kanja and commanders at Kiganjo, to justify why the recruits could not be deferred instead of being expelled altogether.
Critics say the decision risks discouraging women from joining the police service at a time when the government has been pushing for greater gender balance in security agencies.
The Senate intervention also comes amid growing scrutiny of conditions facing female officers and recruits within the security sector, including concerns over workplace discrimination, harassment and unequal opportunities for promotion and advancement.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The expulsion of 18 pregnant police recruits from the National Police Service exposes the clash between outdated institutional regulations and constitutional protections on equality and labour rights. By summoning IG Douglas Kanja and senior police bosses, senators have elevated the matter into a national debate on gender discrimination in public service. The controversy could force reforms within the police service, especially on maternity accommodation, recruitment policies and treatment of women officers, while testing Kenya’s commitment to gender equality and inclusivity.
