The Independent Policing Oversight Authority(IPOA) led by the Board, on Monday mobilized its teams across the country to monitor the National Police Service’s (NPS) recruitment exercise in the gazetted recruitment centers.
The Authority is mandated under Section 6(c) of IPOA Act, to independently monitor policing operations affecting members of the public to ensure compliance to rule of law and policing practices.
The aim of monitoring is to ensure compliance by police officers to policing laws, regulations, procedures, standing orders and code of conduct, as well as ensure fairness, transparency and adherence to the law.
Through its Inspections, Monitoring and Preventive Services Directorate(IMPS), IPOA deploys monitors to designated recruitment centers to observe all phases of the recruitment; registration, physical assessment, medical testing, candidate vetting and final selection. This is done to assess professionalism, and to gather data that will inform a comprehensive report highlighting best practices, areas of concern, and recommendations aimed at strengthening professionalism in future recruitment exercises.
This year’s recruitment came in the wake of a landmark court ruling. On October 30th 2025, the Employment and Labour Relations Court held that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) does not have constitutional powers to recruit, train, employ, assign, or dismiss NPS members.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa declared null and void, the Legal Notice No. 159 of September 19, 2025, under which the NPSC had advertised a 10,000-officer recruitment, null. The ruling reaffirmed that recruitment authority lies with the NPS, under the independent command of the Inspector General as per Article 245 of the Constitution.
The High Court had, earlier this month, temporarily suspended the recruitment exercise following a petition. However, a later court order lifted that suspension, allowing the recruitment to proceed pending further hearing.
Against this backdrop, IPOA’s presence is especially vital. The Authority’s monitoring is rooted in its constitutional mandate to “monitor, review, audit, and make recommendations on the conduct and operations of the Service.”
In past recruitment cycles, IPOA documented serious concerns, including ethnic discrimination, physical-attribute bias, and inconsistent procedures across centers. Lessons from those past exercises guide the Authority’s current approach which watching closely for equitable treatment of all applicants, non-discrimination, adherence to merit, and procedural uniformity.
The monitoring report will provide concrete findings, highlighting areas of concern. The report will then make clear, actionable recommendations to the NPS leadership, with the key aim to strengthen future recruitment exercises.
By actively monitoring today’s recruitment, the Authority hopes to help build a stronger, more accountable, and more representative police Service, one whose legitimacy is rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect for the Constitution.