EACC, IPOA moot joint police enrollment monitoring plans to deter recruitment malpractices
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have mooted joint efforts to monitor upcoming National Police Service (NPS) enrolment exercise to deter bribery and other recruitment malpractices.
The announcement was made earlier today during a joint press briefing by IPOA and EACC after the former’s leadership paid a courtesy call to the latter at their Integrity Centre headquarters to deliberate on various issues concerning the policing and integrity.
EACC Chairperson David Oginde hosted the IPOA delegation led by their Chairperson Issack Hassan.
Oginde stated that they’ll be keen in the upcoming recruitment to ensure that the young people join the service freely.
According to Oginde, cases of bribery during recruitment have been rampant thus the move to monitor the situation in the upcoming exercise and in future.
“Corruption witnessed during recruitment of officers is an area of great concern. We have deliberated some of the challenges faced in that area and we have agreed to work together with IPOA to monitor whatever shall be happening soon and even the future ones. This is to ensure that the public participates in a free, fair and transparent recruitment of young people wanting to join the force,” Oginde stated.
IPOA chairperson affirmed the statement by Oginde adding that they’ll be training their staff at the EACC Integrity Academy to improve on their tackling with graft amongst the police.
The two have also promised to monitor the integrity of service men and ensure that they are no longer top of corrupt people in the next research as it has been previously.
“We shall be monitoring the trends to know what the causes of corruption among the Police are. We hope to end corruption in the sector and improve integrity and ethics through our academy,” Oginde added.
The decision by IPOA and EACC comes as the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the National Police Service plan to conduct the recruitment of 10,000 police constables online under new 2025 regulations designed to promote transparency and curb corruption.
For the first time in Kenya’s history, the exercise will be conducted entirely online, with applicants required to submit their details virtually. Out of the 10,000 slots, 4,000 have been reserved for National Youth Service (NYS) graduates.
NPSC said the new framework is guided by fairness, professionalism, and merit.
It added that it aims to seal loopholes that previously allowed bribery and favouritism in the recruitment process.
