Inside Kenya’s Security Overhaul: Mass Recruitment, 40% Pay Rise, and Welfare Boost in Landmark Reforms
By The News Desk
The Government of Kenya has unveiled sweeping reforms across the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and National Youth Service (NYS), marking a bold transformation aimed at building a modern, efficient, and people-centered security sector.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo
Speaking on the progress, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo said the reforms signal a deliberate shift toward strengthening institutional capacity, improving officer welfare, and enhancing service delivery across the country.
As part of the ongoing overhaul, the Government has recruited 13,860 new officers, including 10,000 Police Constables and 3,860 Prison Constables. The move is designed to address long-standing staffing shortages, ease operational pressure on existing personnel, and significantly boost security presence nationwide.
In what is being described as a historic milestone, the Government has implemented the most comprehensive salary review ever seen in the disciplined services.
Officers are set to benefit from pay increases of up to 40 percent over a two-year period. Phases I and II have already been successfully rolled out, with the final phase scheduled for July 2026—enhancing earnings and making careers in the services more attractive.
Welfare remains at the core of the reform agenda. Officers are now receiving improved risk and hardship allowances, alongside an ambitious housing programme that has already delivered approximately 5,000 housing units, with a long-term target of 28,000 units. Additionally, the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) is expected to provide broader and more comprehensive healthcare coverage for officers and their families.
The reforms are further supported by ongoing legislative changes aimed at strengthening accountability, professionalism, and operational efficiency within the services. At the same time, the Government is investing in modern equipment, advanced communication systems, and the digitization of security operations to align with global standards.
Collectively, these measures represent a transformative chapter in Kenya’s security sector—laying the foundation for a force that is better equipped, better compensated, and more responsive to the needs of the public.
