In response to President William Ruto’s directive to raise police salaries, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has introduced new ranks and salary scales for police officers.
The commission, chaired by Eliud Kinuthia, reviewed the remuneration for police officers and civilian staff in the National Police Service (NPS) in collaboration with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to implement the new salary structures.
“In the fulfillment of the promises and pledges, the National government established the Maraga’s taskforce whose recommendations include review and increase in Police Officers’ salaries pursuant to this recommendation and the mandate of the NPSC,” he said.
The salaries have been reviewed upwards, including a rise in the basic pay for police constables at entry level, the rank for those who have recently graduated from college.
A police constable’s salary has been increased from Ksh 21,645 to Ksh 25,645, receiving a boom of Kshs 4,000.
On the other hand, the longest-serving Police Constable (served more than 20 years) will earn a minimum monthly gross salary of Ksh 50,145 up to a maximum of Ksh 69,640.
Additionally, the commission has raised the monthly basic salary for a Senior Assistant Inspector General at entry level, from KSh 200,899 to KSh 221,915—an increase of KSh 21,026.
Meanwhile, a long-serving Senior Assistant Inspector General will receive a basic salary ranging from KSh 310,725 to KSh 409,365.
He stated that the Commission provides annual incremental notches for police officers across various cadre levels.
“Our structure allows a police officer to serve up to 20 notches of salary increment each year. Those who begin start at notch one which is Ksh 21,645 the following year they move to notch two and you serve in that one rank for up to 20 years if promotion does not come and that structure allows that,” he stated.
“The accounting officer for the National Police Service (NPS) has been tasked with ensuring that all officers, both those serving within the country and those deployed in peacekeeping missions such as Haiti, receive their salaries, benefits, and allowances,” NPSC Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia stated.
Regarding matters on promotions, Kinuthia noted that the NPSC would take into consideration age factor, and therefore Police Constables between the ages of 53 and 59 will be considered in a unique group of senior officers who are approaching retirement.
He emphasized that some of these officers have held the rank of Police Constable for over 30 years with spotless disciplinary records, suggesting that their lack of promotion is not due to any misconduct on their part.
On September 3, the commission approved the Acting Inspector General’s recommendation to promote 1,957 police officers based on merit. This includes 87 women and 1,870 men, all nearing the retirement age of 60.
