The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has announced the promotion of at least 738 police officers to several senior ranks within the service.
In a statement dated March 12, NPSC chairperson Eliud Kinuthia said that after reviewing recommendations from Inspector General Douglas Kanja, the Commission was satisfied that they were qualified for promotion.
The NPSC met on Monday.
“The Inspector General assured the Commission that the process was competitive, transparent and had considered regional, ethnicity and gender balance in arriving at the preferred candidates in accordance with Article 10 and 232 on National Values and Principles of Governance and Public Service.
“Subsequently, pursuant to Article 246 (a), the Commission determined promotions of Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight (738) Police Officers distributed in Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,” the Kinuthia said.
The promoted officers include 14 officers to the ranks of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG), 51 Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), 135 Commissioners of Police (CP), 277 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and 261 Superintendent of Police (SP).
The Commission also noted that another 50 civilian staff of National Police Services in various cadres have been promoted.
All the promoted officers have already been gazetted.
The gazettement means that they will be assigned duties in senior offices, which are above the sub-county command.
It also gives them the authority to communicate on behalf of the service on issues related to their jurisdictions.
Interviews for the promotions were conducted in October 2024.
The NPSC said at least 183 police officers who completed the Higher Training Course and Senior Training Course participated in the interviews.
The Commission considered other criteria, including academic qualifications, and discipline, as the training alone does not guarantee one a promotion.
“In accordance with the National Police Service Commission (Promotions) Regulations, 2015, undergoing promotional training does not automatically entitle an officer to promotion. Instead, the training shall be considered alongside other requirements for the position in which promotion is desired.
“This ensures that promotions are based on a holistic evaluation of qualifications, merit, and other established criteria, not just on the completion of training.”
