A proposal to change how police officers are recruited in Kenya has sparked a strong debate during public meetings held in all 47 counties.
The Police Service Commission, which is responsible for leading the reform, faced tough questions and concerns from both members of the public and current police officers.
Many worry that the new recruitment plan could unfairly affect people from marginalized communities.
The draft policy suggests a new recruitment process with three main steps.
First, applicants must apply online.
Next, they go through physical tests and document checks. Finally, there is a medical evaluation before the successful candidates begin training.
The commission says they have made sure to protect opportunities for 29 marginalized groups in the country.
However, the requirement to apply online immediately raised problems. Many people in rural areas pointed out that they have poor or no internet access.
They also mentioned that some lack the money or skills to use online systems properly. Some police officers also warned that relying too much on technology could block some good candidates.
One officer even said the system could “create a monster” if there is no option to apply manually. They asked the commission to keep a paper-based application alongside the online one.
There were also questions about whether the new process fixes existing problems within the police force.
Some officers said there are already many graduates working in the police whose careers are stuck. But the new rules seem to favor fresh graduates without any police experience.
Others said only people with paramilitary training should take part in recruiting new officers, suggesting that the process needs to be stricter and more focused on security skills.
Regarding affirmative action, the commission said the policy allows for some flexibility. For example, it may lower academic requirements in areas that don’t meet the usual minimum standards.
They also promised that if someone fails the medical test, they will be replaced by another applicant from the same local area.
This is meant to keep the recruitment balanced and fair to all communities.
The Police Service Commission describes these draft rules as a big step forward to modernize how police officers are recruited and to make the process more open and fair.
But judging by the strong objections raised during the public forums, the commission still has a lot of work to do.
They need to win the trust of the public and police officers before sending the proposal to Parliament for approval. The debate shows how sensitive and important police recruitment is for the whole country.
