Interior Ministry Seeks Ksh2bn Injection for Police Recruitment and Officers’ Welfare Amid 2027 Election Concerns
Kenya’s Interior Ministry is seeking a massive Ksh2 billion budget allocation to fund police recruitment, salary reviews and housing upgrades for officers across the country, amid growing scrutiny over the timing of the exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo revealed the ambitious plan during interviews with various media outlets on Tuesday, May 19, saying the funds are intended to strengthen the National Police Service (NPS) and improve the welfare of officers.
According to Omollo, the government plans to use the money to recruit more officers, implement ongoing salary increments and accelerate housing projects aimed at improving the living standards of security personnel stationed nationwide.
“Cumulatively, we’re looking at a budget of around Ksh2 billion,” the PS disclosed.
The announcement comes months after the government recruited 10,000 police officers last year following a three-year freeze blamed on budget constraints.
Omollo defended the recruitment drive, dismissing claims that the programme is politically motivated ahead of the 2027 polls.
Instead, he insisted the exercise is necessary to bridge the country’s police-to-population gap and improve public service delivery.
“Internationally, we have the recommendation of one officer to 400 citizens. When we came in, the ratio was 1:500,” Omollo explained.
“So there’s been a need for us to bridge that gap, and that necessitated us to recruit the numbers we did last year, around 10,000 officers.”
The PS further argued that police recruitment is a continuous process due to natural attrition within the force caused by retirements, resignations and other exits.
“This is not about next year’s elections, it’s about service to mwananchi,” he added.
The government has also intensified efforts to address long-standing concerns over the living conditions of police officers, many of whom have for years complained about poor housing and overcrowded police quarters.
Omollo said the state has already completed construction of 5,000 housing units for officers, with an additional 23,000 units currently in the pipeline.
On salaries, the Interior Ministry says Parliament has already approved funding for the first two phases of police salary increments, while the final phase has been included in the proposed 2026/27 budget estimates.
The latest push signals the government’s broader attempt to modernise the police service at a time when security, public trust and election preparedness are increasingly under national focus.
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