More than 6,000 police recruits have completed their training and graduated from the National Police College Main Campus in Kiganjo, marking their transition from basic training to service in the Kenya Police Service. President William Ruto presided over the passing-out parade on Friday, August 28, 2026, where the recruits formally completed their training programme. The recruits underwent a nine-month training course covering areas required for police work before qualifying for deployment.

The graduation comes as the National Police Service continues efforts to increase its personnel numbers and strengthen policing capacity across the country. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja described the recruitment exercise as the first major recruitment into the service in three years. The new officers are expected to be deployed to different parts of the country after completing the required administrative and deployment procedures.

The graduation ceremony also coincided with the commissioning of a new General Duty police uniform, which the graduating officers will be among the first to wear. The new uniform consists of a sky-blue shirt and deep navy-blue trousers and is being introduced as the standard attire for General Duty officers in the Kenya Police Service. Kanja urged the graduating officers to maintain discipline and professionalism as they begin their careers. He also warned them against involvement in criminal activities and acting on instructions from individuals outside the established command structure of the National Police Service.

The graduation represents the final stage of the recruits’ initial training before they enter operational service. Their deployment will add thousands of newly trained officers to the Kenya Police Service, potentially increasing personnel available for policing duties in different counties. The recruitment and training programme also comes ahead of the 2027 General Election, when the National Police Service is expected to play a major role in maintaining security during the electoral period. However, the recruits will first undergo the normal deployment process before taking up their assigned stations.

The government has simultaneously been investing in police training infrastructure at Kiganjo, including improvements to shooting ranges, the college library, mess facilities and physical training grounds. The combination of new recruits and upgraded training facilities is intended to strengthen the service’s capacity to train and deploy officers. For the graduating recruits, the passing-out parade formally marks the end of their nine-month training and the beginning of their careers as members of the Kenya Police Service.