Police Promotions Spark Uproar Amid Claims of Corruption and Tribal Bias

Nairobi, April 17 – A wave of dissatisfaction has swept through the National Police Service (NPS) following the recent promotions of senior officers amid claims that the process continues to be driven by ethnic favoritism, bribery, and insider connections, benefiting a select few at the expense of merit and fairness. The controversy has reignited long-standing concerns about ethnic favoritism and politicization in Kenya’s security sector, issues previously highlighted in reports, including the exit findings of the outgoing National Police Service Commission (NPSC) under Eliud Kinuthia.

On March 12, the NPSC announced the promotion of 738 officers across various ranks in the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The promotions were approved following a commission meeting held on March 10, with assurances from the Inspector General that the process was competitive, transparent, and balanced in terms of regional, ethnic, and gender representation. However, multiple sources within the police service dispute this, alleging that the process disproportionately favored officers from one ethnic group while sidelining qualified candidates from others.

A senior officer within the DCI, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, lamented the glaring ethnic bias, particularly in the elevation of Commissioners of Police (CPs). “We have many competent officers from other communities at the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) who deserved promotion to CP, yet their names were not considered. The trend is the same across other formations in the service,” the officer revealed. Another officer expressed frustration over what they termed as a pre-determined list of promotions, claiming that merit was overlooked in favor of ethnic affiliations. “This is not the first time we have seen this trend, but this time it is too blatant to ignore. We expected a fair and balanced process, but that was not the case,” the officer added.

The allegations of ethnic favoritism echo concerns raised in the exit report of the outgoing NPSC commissioners, led by Kinuthia. The report, handed to President William Ruto on March 17, warned of a “coup by senior police officers” in matters of promotions and transfers. It highlighted how senior officers at Vigilance House often bypassed the NPSC by submitting lists of promoted individuals only after changes had been made, leading to perceptions of bias and undermining the commission’s constitutional mandate. The report recommended that police chiefs should first forward the names and particulars of officers they intend to promote or transfer to the commission before implementing any changes to ensure transparency and fairness.

Although an official statement signed by the outgoing NPSC Chairperson affirmed that the promotions adhered strictly to Article 246(a) of the Constitution, emphasizing regional, ethnic, and gender balance in line with national values and governance principles, our findings reveal that the list falls short of these claims.

Discontent over the latest police promotions runs deep across all ranks. While the NPSC in their exit report had acknowledged concerns about officers stagnating in the same rank for decades, the latest promotions seem to have ignored its own recommendations, further fueling frustrations.

The NPSC’s exit report highlighted the negative impact of long-term stagnation on morale and performance, recommending the introduction of a performance-based promotion system. However, instead of addressing these concerns, the latest promotions have raised fresh grievances.

Last September, 1,957 veteran constables aged 53–59 were promoted after spending over 30 years in the same position. While the move was welcomed, many saw it as a token gesture that failed to resolve systemic issues. “After three decades in position, a promotion feels more like sympathy than a recognition,” said one officer who had waited 28 years for an advancement in the service.

The latest promotions have sparked controversy, particularly the elevation of 14 officers to the rank of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG). Among them is the former Nairobi Region Commander Adamson Bungei, who, until his promotion, served as the Director of Operations at Vigilance House. His tenure has been marred by sharp criticism over his handling of protests, including allegations of police brutality during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 and the unresolved killing of activist Rex Masai in June last year.

Bungei, 49, has also come under scrutiny for the speed of his rise. Critics claim he has been promoted three ranks in just 30 months, a climb that long-serving officers say typically takes a decade, despite not meeting the required service duration and experience. His promotion had previously been suspended by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in 2023 over legality concerns.

“These are not promotions – they’re coronations,” one police officer remarked. “The lists are cooked in Vigilance House long before they reach the commission.” Another officer added, “Some officers move ranks within two years, which is incredible—however, the rules require at least three years per promotion.”

The lack of transparency in the promotion process has further fueled suspicions. Despite multiple requests for the full list of 738 promotions on March 18 and 23, as well as several follow-up calls, our inquiries went unanswered. Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri Nyaga directed us to the NPSC secretariat, which did not respond to our emails or calls.

However, we obtained a list containing 192 names, which our sources confirmed was part of the larger group of 738 officers promoted, as announced by the immediate former NPSC Chairperson Kinuthia. Our analysis has revealed that 24% (46 officers) are from the Kalenjin community, with the pattern becoming more pronounced in higher-ranking promotions. Of the 14 officers elevated to SAIG, six are Kalenjin, three are Kikuyu, and the remaining positions are distributed among other communities.

Similarly, in the CP category, 13 of the 52 promoted officers are Kalenjin. Luhya and Kikuyu communities follow, each with five slots, while Kamba have three slots. The remaining positions are distributed among other communities. At the SSP level, 27 of the 127 officers in our sampled list are Kalenjin. Luhya, Kamba, and Kikuyu each have 14 slots each, while the remaining positions, ranging between one and four, were distributed among other communities.

This pattern has sparked murmurs within the ranks, with some officers referring to it as the “tribal arithmetic of promotions.” The lack of transparency in the promotion process, coupled with the apparent ethnic imbalance, raises serious concerns about fairness and meritocracy within the police service.

Among other senior officers promoted to SAIG are Dr. Wanderi Mwangi, Director of Human Capital at NPS headquarters; Mathew Kuto, Principal Assistant to the Inspector General; and James Kabo, Police Air Wing Commandant. Officers from the Administration Police Service promoted to SAIG include Lazarus Opicho (Security of Government Buildings), Hesborn Lusweti (Personnel), Jackson Kangami (Operations), and Hoseah Limo (Anti-Stock Theft Unit). From the DCI, Francis Ndiema (Personnel) and Sospeter Munyi (DCI Academy) were also promoted.

A total of 51 officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) were promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). They include NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, Coast Region police commander Ali Nuno, Commandant Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU) Benard Korir, Samuel Ndanyi (Central), Hillary Birgen (Logistics), Johana Tanui (Operations), Patrick Mwakio (Inspectorate), Sarah Duncan (Reforms), Joyce Kanda (Personnel), Janet Shako (Logistics, DCI), Isaac Meme (Inspections, DCI), George Kisaka (DCI, Nyanza), and Richard Cheptilat (Airwing).

Other officers promoted to AIG include Chief of Operations in Haiti Stephen Kipruto, Deputy Commandant Richard Rotich, Dr. Philip Ouma (DCI Reforms), Ali Samata (Banking Fraud), Dennis Okadapau (Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau), and Janet Shako (Logistics). Additionally, 135 officers were promoted to Commissioner of Police (CP), 277 to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), 261 to Superintendent of Police (SP), and 50 civilian staff also benefited from the promotions.

Despite these figures, there is growing discontent over the perceived exclusion of officers from other regions, particularly in the coveted CP positions, which officers we spoke to claimed come with more responsibilities and influence. The discontent is further fueled by the fact that the NPSC’s exit report had recommended strict adherence to transfer and promotion regulations to avoid perceptions of bias. However, it appears these recommendations were ignored, leading to the current uproar.

Government critics argue that the Ruto administration is systematically consolidating power in the security sector by strategically placing officers from the Kalenjin community in key positions. This trend, they warn, risks undermining the credibility of the police service and fueling tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Chapter 34 of the NPS Standing Orders outlines the procedures and criteria for police promotions, emphasizing a merit-based system. It requires officers to meet specific qualifications, experience thresholds, and performance standards to be eligible for advancement. Further, under the NPSC (Promotions) Regulations, 2015, promotions are hinged on experience, training, years of service, and examination standards. However, sources within the police service claim that several officers bypass mandatory promotional training yet still secure promotions. This raises questions about whether the training requirement is being selectively waived for certain individuals. Additionally, some officers who failed crucial law exams were still promoted, while others were quietly exempted from taking the tests altogether, our source claimed

Disgruntled officers warn that if the alleged ethnic bias and corruption are not addressed, it could significantly erode morale within the police force and ultimately affect service delivery and internal cohesion. “We take an oath to serve Kenyans equally, but when officers feel sidelined because of their ethnic background, it breeds resentment and division. Promotions should be based on merit, not political connections,” an officer stated.

With morale deteriorating, some officers are calling for intervention by oversight bodies such as Parliament and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). One officer warned that without accountability, the situation could escalate into a broader crisis.

“Claims of unfair promotions through tribal favoritism, bribery, and political ties cannot be ignored. Parliament and KNCHR must act now; if they don’t, this could turn into a major crisis as the country moves toward the 2027 elections,” one officer warned.

Another veteran officer said, “We have created two police services – one where careers grow through merit, and another where they are bought or bestowed.”

Police Spokesperson Nyaga dismissed the allegations as “wrong and misguided,” insisting that promotions were strictly merit-based and followed due process. He challenged officers dissatisfied to appeal or provide evidence of misconduct, maintaining that promotions consider factors such as experience, service length, and national diversity.

“To get to the level of promotion, an officer is subjected to numerous factors, including experience, length of service, and diversity to reflect the face of Kenya, among other key merit-based considerations,” he stated.

However, his assurances have done little to appease disgruntled officers, who say the irregular promotions have severely impacted morale and confidence within the police service. Instead, they have reinforced perceptions of favoritism, lack of meritocracy, and deepening frustration among long-serving officers still awaiting recognition. Many are now calling on oversight bodies to intervene and address the situation before it escalates into a full-blown crisis in the security sector.