The National Police Service (NPS) has approved the promotion of 1,948 police officers whose career advancement had been delayed by a legal dispute over the management of uniformed officers.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja authorised the promotions after the Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling affirming his authority over personnel decisions involving sworn police officers.
In a statement, the NPS said the officers had completed the required promotional courses and met all the conditions for advancement to various ranks.
“The officers concerned had successfully undertaken the requisite promotional courses and met all the prescribed conditions for advancement. Their promotions take effect accordingly,” the service said.
The decision follows a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on October 16, 2026, which clarified the respective constitutional mandates of the Inspector General and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
The three-judge bench, comprising Justices Patrick Kiage, Jamila Mohammed and Jessie Lesiit, upheld the lower court’s interpretation that the Inspector General’s independent command over the police service extends to personnel decisions affecting sworn officers.
These include recruitment, deployment, promotion, suspension and dismissal, while the commission retains responsibility for civilian employees working in administrative, technical, medical, accounting, information technology and legal roles.
The ruling reinforced the distinction between the Inspector General’s constitutional mandate under Article 245 and the commission’s functions under Article 246 of the Constitution.
Court ruling ends dispute over police promotions
The dispute dates back to September 2025, when the NPSC advertised vacancies for police constables and published recruitment regulations.
Former Kilome MP John Harun Mwau challenged the move, arguing that the recruitment and management of uniformed officers fell within the mandate of the National Police Service and the Inspector General’s independent command.
On October 30, 2025, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled in favour of the challenge, declaring the commission’s recruitment regulations unconstitutional and limiting its authority over sworn officers.
The NPSC and the Law Society of Kenya subsequently appealed the decision, arguing that the Constitution granted the commission powers over recruitment and other human resource matters within the police service.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the consolidated appeals, leaving the lower court’s decision intact.
The legal battle had resulted in interim court orders in February 2026 suspending the exercise of certain powers relating to police promotions and dismissals pending the determination of the appeals.
The latest ruling has cleared the way for the NPS to proceed with the promotions.
Kanja urges officers to uphold integrity
Congratulating the promoted officers, Kanja urged them to embrace professionalism, integrity and diligence as they assume their new responsibilities.
He reminded them that advancement to higher ranks comes with increased accountability and called on them to discharge their duties fairly and in accordance with the rule of law.
The NPS said the promotions would strengthen operational efficiency, improve service delivery and support ongoing reforms aimed at building public confidence in the police.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to professional, responsive and accountable policing, with an emphasis on protecting and serving the public.
