Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has approved the promotion of 1948 police officers following a Court of Appeal ruling which upheld the police boss's authority over the management of uniformed officers.
The National Police Service confirmed the upcoming promotions in a statement on Monday, October 19, stating that the uniformed officers would secure promotions across various ranks after meeting the requirements.
"Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS), Mr. Douglas Kanja, MGH, CBS, OGW, has formally approved the promotion of 1,948 officers, whose promotions had been pending, to various ranks, following the ruling of the Court of Appeal of Kenya in Civil Appeal No. E971 & E957 of 2025," a statement from the NPS said.
The officers had completed the required promotional courses and met all the conditions for advancement to the new ranks.
Police Officers during the closing of the Multinational Security Support Mission to the Republic of Haiti Course at the National Police College Embakasi 'A' Campus.
NPS
The announcement will come as a relief to the officers, who faced a wave of uncertainty following a tussle of authority between IG Kanja and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
On October 16, the Court of Appeal issued a judgement dismissing appeals by NPSC and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), who challenged a lower court's decision on the recruitment and management of uniformed police officers.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Patrick Kiage, Jamila Mohammed and Jessie Lesiit upheld the judgment delivered by Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Hellen Wasilwa on October 30 2025.
Since the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals, the lower court’s ruling declaring the NPSC’s recruitment regulations for uniformed police officers unconstitutional remained in force.
The legal dispute dates back to September 2025, when the NPSC advertised vacancies for police constables and published regulations outlining the recruitment and appointment process. This triggered a challenge over whether the commission had constitutional authority to recruit uniformed police officers.
In its October 2025 judgment, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled against the commission's recruitment regulations, declaring them unconstitutional and barring the NPSC from recruiting uniformed officers.
The court also restricted the commission's authority over other personnel functions involving members of the service. After the ruling, the NPSC and LSK subsequently appealed the decision as they challenged the interpretation of the Constitution.
Notably, the dispute is centred on Articles 245 and 246 of the Constitution, which establish the IG's independent command over the National Police Service.
While congratulating the officers, Kanja urged them to uphold professionalism, integrity and diligence, and remain accountable to the public. The NPS did not disclose the specific ranks awarded to the officers.
Police officers on a parade at State House on February 28, 2024
PCS