Police officers in Kenya play a crucial role in maintaining law and order, and protecting citizens.
However, despite their critical responsibilities, police salaries in Kenya have been a contentious issue, with many officers earning meager salaries.
In this article, WoK looks at police salaries in Kenya, and reforms that the government has promised to implement in a bid to address the problem.
According to a statistical report shared by Wanjiku Reports, the lowest Kenya Police rank earn Ksh 32,800 while the highest rank which is the Senior Assistant Inspector pockets Ksh 274,890.
The Assistant Inspector General walks away with Ksh 187,890 while the Commissioner of Police is paid Ksh 130,590 per month.
On the other hand, Senior Superintendents earn Ksh 85,890 while their juniors; Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents pocket Ksh 73,020 and Ksh 70,530 respectively.
Chief Inspectors pocket Ksh 58,220 while Inspectors walk away with Ksh 53,820 every month.
A Senior Sergeant is paid Ksh 50,220 per month while a Sergeant is paid Ksh 45,540 monthly.
Corporals are paid Ksh 42,660 every month while police constables who just graduated earn Ksh 32,880.
Police welfare
In January 2023, the National Taskforce on Police Reforms headed kicked off the process of reviewing the salaries of police officers.
This followed a directive from President William Ruto.
In a statement, the National Police Service Commission (NSPC) said the task force headed by former Chief Justice David Maraga had already swung into action.
“The task force has already started looking at terms and conditions of services for police and prison officers
“Basic pay, allowances, housing, insurance, welfare, and psychosocial support are some of the matters the task force is already reviewed,” NSPC announced in a statement.
The commission revealed that there had been concerns that police and prison officers were receiving poor pay and allowances.
“We had been concerned and raised the matter of officers working in hardship areas and far-flung areas
“Officers working in some parts of North Eastern, Rift Valley, Coast, and Easter will benefit from increased allowance because they work under extraneous circumstances,” the commission revealed.
Police officers working in those areas were advised by NSPC to contact the task force and air grievances that might have been overlooked.
During campaigns in the run up to the 2022 General Elections, Ruto had vowed to give the police better remuneration if he wins the election.
“We have agreed with our police officers that they will not again be used to advance political interests. They will be reputable men in uniform and persons with a noble job of ensuring there is peace in the country and as Kenya Kwanza, we will equip them to ensure they run a professional police service
“We will accord them good terms of service, give them better insurance covers and a good pay to detach them from politics,” he said at the time.
