Gov't Clarifies Increasing Police Officers Salaries by 40 Percent

The Ministry of Interior has clarified an error in its announcement that police officers received a 40 percent pay raise on July 1.

In a statement on Thursday, August 22, the Ministry clarified that the uniformed officers only received a salary raise of 20 percent in July.

It maintained that the police reform taskforce had recommended a 40 percent pay rise for officers, which the Ministry will implement in three stages.

"We wish to clarify that the Taskforce recommended 40 percent pay increase for the officers. The payment will be made in three phases. In the first phase, an increase of 20 percent has already been implemented effective July 1, 2024, for constables, with the percentage gradually decreasing for higher ranks. We regret the error," read the statement by the Ministry of Interior.

In the earlier statement, the Ministry indicated that the officers had received a salary increase of 40 percent in the first phase.

"All National Police Service (NPS) officers have received a salary raise effective July 1, 2024. In the first phase, uniformed constables received a basic salary increase of 40%, with the percentage decreasing progressively for higher ranks, reaching a 3% increase for senior officers," read the statement, which has now been clarified.

Meanwhile, the government announced that prison officers and National Youth Service (NYS) personnel would receive salary increments starting in September 2024.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo noted that the reforms in the security sector would take four years to be fully implemented.

“The reform process is set to take four years, from 2024 to 2028, guided by a strategic framework that focuses on four core areas that is; leadership within the three services, oversight and accountability, institutional capacity development and human resource management, and operational preparedness and logistical capability,” Omollo remarked.