Thousands turn up to join police service

Young women who turned up for a police recruitment exercise at the Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi on July, 14, 2014. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

Thousands of young people thronged recruitment centres across the country on Monday to try to join the police service.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) is recruiting 10,000 people, who will join the service after nine months of training.

This is the biggest number the service has sought to recruit in Kenya’s history.

Potential recruits were required to have attained a D+ (plus) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination. Degree and diploma certificate holders were also eligible, provided that they were not more than 30 years old.

In Meru County, the recruitment was carried out at Kinoru Stadium by Meru police boss Mathew Kutoh, Deputy County Commissioner Jim Njoka and District Criminal Investigation Officer Daniel Muleli.

Mr Kutoh said he was happy with the turnout.

“As of midday, we had 262 recruited for the Kenya Police and 205 for the Administration Police. Out of this, 25 will be absorbed to join the Kenya Police while 16 will be enlisted in the AP,” said Mr Kutoh.

In Uasin Gishu County, many potential recruits were turned away at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret because they lacked original secondary school certificates.

RESULT SLIPS

According to Eldoret East Deputy Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha, a considerable number of the youths who turned up for the exercise had just graduated from high school last year and had only their results slips.

“Quite a considerable number of the youths who showed up had just cleared their secondary education last year and did not have their original certificate, which is a requirement,” Mr Kyatha explained.

According to Mr Kyatha, 57 police constables and 16 administration police constables were recruited from the two constituencies of Moiben and Ainabkoi in Eldoret East Sub-County.

"The one-third gender requirement as envisaged in the Constitution has been observed in the exercise, which has had several civilian observers," added Mr Kyatha.

In Nakuru County, nearly 1,000 young men and women braved the sun at Afraha Stadium, but only 37 were picked.

This year the exercise attracted a bigger turnout compared with last year. Many arrived as early as 5am exuding confidence that they would join the police service.

In Naivasha's Kihoto Grounds, 500 youths turned up for the recruitment exercise, which was supervised by Sub-county Commissioner Abraham Kemboi.

Many were turned away because they did not have the required qualifications.