KIGANJO, Nyeri County—President William Ruto has challenged more than 6,000 newly trained police officers to exercise their authority responsibly, uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of Kenyans as they begin active service.
Speaking on Friday during a passing-out parade at the National Police College in Kiganjo, Ruto warned the recruits against corruption, excessive use of force and abuse of office.
He urged the officers to remain disciplined, impartial and incorruptible, while treating citizens with dignity regardless of their circumstances.
“Wherever you are deployed, you must remain disciplined, impartial, incorruptible, protect the vulnerable, treat every citizen with dignity, and reject every inducement to compromise your duty,” Ruto said.
The President said the police would play a critical role in protecting Kenya’s democratic space as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
He cautioned officers against selectively arresting individuals involved in political violence while ignoring those who finance, organise or facilitate such activities.
“Do not arrest only the young people holding a weapon while allowing the person who recruited, transported, and paid them to escape responsibility,” he said.
Ruto said effective policing should not be measured only by the number of arrests made, but also by crimes prevented, lives protected and public confidence in the service.
He urged the recruits to recognise that policing was a constitutional responsibility rather than simply a career.
“When citizens trust the police, they report crime, share intelligence, cooperate with investigations, and help prevent threats before they materialize,” he said.
The more than 6,000 officers completed nine months of training after joining the National Police College on November 24, 2025.
Their training included police procedures, legal studies, firearms skills, criminal investigations, countering violent extremism, traffic management, national security, human rights and community policing.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja said the new officers had acquired skills required for modern policing and would increase the personnel strength of the National Police Service.
Kanja urged the graduates to maintain professionalism and integrity and reminded them of their constitutional duty to protect the rights and freedoms of all persons.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the recruitment was part of government efforts to address personnel shortages in the police service.
He said the government had recruited 10,000 police officers under the current administration and had also revised the training curriculum to prepare officers for emerging threats, including cybercrime.
Murkomen said the government was also investing in equipment, vehicles, housing and technology while reopening regional police training centres and strengthening continuous training within the service.
Ruto also highlighted measures aimed at improving police welfare, saying the government had reviewed officers’ remuneration, housing, healthcare and other working conditions.
He said the basic salary of police constables had increased from Sh21,000 to Sh29,000 following the completion of a three-phase review of police remuneration.
The President said improved welfare should go hand in hand with expectations of professionalism and integrity.
“We cannot demand professionalism, integrity and sacrifice from our police officers while remaining indifferent to their remuneration, housing, health care, equipment, career progression, and psychological well-being,” he said.
The recruits took their oath of office during the ceremony, formally marking their transition from training to active service in the National Police Service.
