The High Court has halted the National Police Service’s (NPS) recruitment of 10,000 constables and officers once again.

In a ruling issued on Monday, November 10, Justice Bahati granted conservatory orders suspending the recruitment notice issued by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, following a petition and application filed by Karanja Matindi.

The recruitment exercise was set to start nationwide on Monday, November 17, 2025.

Full Court Ruling

Here is the full court ruling:

THIS MATTER coming up 10/11/2025 in Chambers for Directions on the Petitioner/Applicant’s Notice of Motion Application dated 06/11/2025 before the Honourable Mr. Justice Bahati Mwamuye MBS, and upon a preliminary consideration of the same

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DIRECTED THAT:
1. Pending the inter portes hearing and determination of the Petitioner/Applicant’s Notice of Motion. Application dated 06/11/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending the Notice of Recruitment of Police Constables/Officers issued on 04/11/2025 by the 1st Respondent.

2. Pending the inter partes bearing and determination of the Petitioner/Applicant’s Notice of Motion Application dated 06/11/2025, a conservatory order be and is bereby issued staying the operation, application, implementation, and/or further operation, application and implementation of the Notice of Recruitment of Police Constables/Officers issued on 04/11/2025 by the 1st Respondent.

3. Order 1 and Order 2 apply to the Respondents and the Ist Interested Party, jointly and severally, and to their employees, servants, agents, related entities, and any person, body, or authority that operates with them under any multi-agency framework, and inchades all facilitative or support functions or services with respect to the impagned Police Recruitment.

4. The Petitioner shall serve the Respondents and the Interested Parties with the Application, the Petition, and this Court Order immediately and file an Affidavit of Service in that regard by close of business 12/11/2025.

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5. The Respondents and the Interested Parties shall enter appearance and file and serve their respective responses to both the Application and the Petition, and they shall do so by close of business 11/12/2025,

6. The Petitioner shall have leave to file and serve a rejoinder, if need be, and it shall do so by close of business 09/01/2026.

7. Mention on 22/01/2026 to confirm compliance and to take directions on the expedited hearing and determination of the Application and/or Petition.
GIVEN under My Hand and the Seal of the Honourable Court on this Tenth Day of November in the Year 2025

Penal Notice: Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other personist disobeying and not observing the same.

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New Police Recruitment

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced a new National Police Service recruitment exercise after the Employment and Labour Relations Court nullified the previous one.

In a notice on Friday, October 31, Kanja stated that the recruitment would take place on Monday, November 17, 2025.

He said the process would run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at all the listed recruitment centres across the country.

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Applicants during a past police recruitment exercise. PHOTO/FILE.