Keeping law and order, investigating crime, and supporting crime prevention are, in part, the responsibilities of the Kenya Police, listed in the Duties, Powers, and Privileges section of The Police Act that provides the legal principles of their service.
Any police force would operate with autonomy and discretion, the Kenyan police officers not being the exception, posing a unique environment with its own challenges because they spend most of their time dealing with vulnerability issues of a variety of criminal activities and supporting victims of crime.
But when policing is a calling, such problems should not discourage you from joining the National Police Service (NPS), as when you are constantly challenged but embracing and learning new skills, you become successful.
Tired of Insecurity in your area? Tried your hand at Police Recruitment, went through vigorous drills several times, but never made the Cut? How about Establishing your Own Police Station and Avoiding all this? Well it's illegal but a localman decided why not.
A localman who opened and operated a police post in the Cheboror area, Kesses, Uasin Gishu, without the knowledge of police authorities has shocked area residents and the country at large.
The discovery was made on Saturday, March 8, 2025, by police bosses in the area who visited the facility.
It was a shock for many senior officers who demanded an explanation from those residing in the area. It is not clear how long the suspect had operated the police post.
Police said that they discovered the police post was in operation in the area without the knowledge of the authorities on March 8 at 11 am.
The localman, identified as Collins Leitich, also known as Chepkulei, is a resident of Asis Village in Ndugulu location.
Reports indicate that Leitich took it upon himself to set up the patrol base in a building, even going so far as to paint it in official police colors, thereby misleading the community into believing it was a legitimate police facility.
Local officials discovered the makeshift base and initiated an investigation. Officers from the Kamuyu Police Post, part of the Kondoo Police Station, were notified and documented the incident under OB04/08/03/2025.
Residents expressed their astonishment upon learning that the patrol base was not officially sanctioned. "We were shocked to find out that the police patrol base was not real. Many of us believed it was a genuine effort to enhance security in our area," remarked one local resident.
Authorities are currently working to determine Leitich's motives for setting up the unauthorized police station. The police have assured the community that they will take appropriate measures as their investigation continues.
He did it without the knowledge of any senior police officers, which prompted a police probe. Police said they are investigating the issue.
They want to know for how long the man had operated the facility and if some of their colleagues knew about it.
Locals will be asked to state if they were arrested and taken to the facility, despite reports indicating he was the only " Police Officer" at the station, making him the Corporal, Watchman, OCS etc.
Such facilities go through a bureaucratic process to be launched and operated. Such facilities need an armory, cell, offices and other operational necessities.
It is not clear if he had any gun, or whether he owned cuffs, when he made patrols, if he had police uniform or how long he had planned to run and operate the makeshift police post without being detected but well, this is Kenya and Anything is Possible.
Over the years, we have had Police Commissioner Imposter, A Fake Doctor running a Clinic for years and a Fake Lawyer who allegedly won numerous cases at the High Court, shocking dramatic discoveries or imposters have dominated headlines in recent years.
How To Join the Kenya Police Legally.
The National Police Service offers different ways of getting into Kenya Police. You can apply directly as cadets on higher ranks, as a volunteer civilian staff, or as specialist officers or join via the traditional entry route of going through the recruitment process held once every year – this is the most common entry scheme.
During the recruitment days of the Kenya Police, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), which plays the human resource management function in the country’s policing service, seeks to recruit suitably qualified applicants to be trained as Police Constables.
These applicants must;
* Be a citizen of Kenya
* Hold a Kenya National Identity Card
* Have a high school minimum mean grade of D+ (D Plus) with a D+ (D Plus) and above in either English or Kiswahili languages in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary
Education (KCSE) examination or its equivalency diploma or degree from an examination body recognized in Kenya
* Be aged between 18 and 28 years
* Meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity to maintain discipline and carry out their job effectively and with a sense of purpose
* Applicants must be in good health both physically and mentally to perform the duties o's a police officer once recruited and enlisted
* Have no criminal record or pending criminal charges.
When the dates for Kenya Police Recruitment come, the National Police Service Commission usually announces to the public through advertisements in at least two daily newspapers of national circulation, online media, and other channels.
The call for applications contains, alongside the recruitment dates, a list of Constituency-based Recruitment Centers where the exercise will take place, the criteria for the recruitment, the application procedure, and the closing date for application seven days after the announcement.
Before going to your nearest recruitment center as part of the police hiring process in Kenya when the day reaches, note that, first, there is a form to sign and fill, which is obtainable at any police station, including Sub County Administration Police Commanders (SUBCOM) Offices, County Commissioners Offices, and Huduma Centres.
They are also available online, downloadable from police websites, www.nationalpolice.go.ke, www.npsc.go.ke, and www.dci.go.ke.
Carry the application form to your nearest recruitment center on the day of recruitment, and with you, have original copies of your National ID, birth certificate, academic certificates and testimonials, and a Police Clearance Certificate.
How long is police training in Kenya?
After meeting all the age and academic qualification requirements to start your application to the National Police Service and passing security and background checks and health and fitness tests on the recruitment day to successfully become a police recruit, to be enlisted as a full police officer, and given a rank, you must undergo rigorous training program at Kenya Police Colleges which lasts nine months. However, there are considerations to raise it to one year or twelve months.
