Last updated on November 5th, 2023 at 02:35 pm
The Kenya Police Service is a national body with the power to enforce laws in Kenya. It is subordinate to the National Police Service Commission, led by the Inspector General of Police, who exercises independent command over the service. The Deputy Inspector General leads the Kenya Police. Kenya Police is further split into Service Headquarters in Nairobi, Formations, General Duty Commands, and Training Institutions. The Kenya police force was established as a British colonial police force in 1907. This article will help you understand the Kenya Police salary rates and their ranks.
Following the promulgation of Kenya’s new Constitution on August 27, 2010, as laid down in Chapter 17 Part 4, the Kenyan police forces underwent a series of reforms. Hence, the Kenya Police Service is now headed by a Deputy Inspector-General, and the division of its functions is organized to consider the devolved structure of government in Kenya.
Kenya Police Salary Scale and their Ranks
There are twelve Kenya Police job groups; these groups are F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, and S. For example, police constables with O-level certificates (or an equivalent KCSE mean grade) are in job group “F,” while degree holders are in job group “J.”
The Kenya Police salary scale is reviewed every two to four years by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), together with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of Kenya (SRC), the body responsible for determining salaries for public servants in the Kenyan government, which also determines and reviews Kenya Police salaries based on experience, level of education, and rank.
Using these factors, the SRC groups these police professionals and determines how much a professional belonging to a specific job group should be paid.
However, some of the police officers holding senior positions or ranks are not degree graduates because they joined the system years before the Kenyan government passed its new policies.
The Kenya Police salary and allowances differ based on many factors, such as level of education, years of experience, and rank. In 2017, the salaries of Kenyan police were increased by 100 percent, and then the government continued to increase their salaries in four stages until 2018.
What is the basic salary for Kenya police?
The basic salary for Kenya Police and their ranks in Kenya is as follows:
| Rank | Monthly Salary (Ksh) |
|---|---|
| Inspector General of Police | Ksh. 852,241 |
| Senior Assistant Inspector General | Ksh. 189,640 to Ksh. 298,529 |
| Assistant Inspector General | Ksh. 187,890 to Ksh. 218,269 |
| Commissioner of Police | Ksh. 106,929 to Ksh. 156,229 |
| Senior Superintendent | Ksh. 85,890 |
| Superintendent | Ksh. 73,020 |
| Assistant Superintendent | Ksh. 70,530 |
| Chief Inspector | Ksh. 47,290 to Ksh. 71,789 |
| Inspector of Police | Ksh. 42,940 to Ksh. 64,379 |
| Senior Sergeant | Ksh. 41,649 to Ksh. 60,449 |
| Sergeant | Ksh. 36,450 to Ksh. 53,570 |
| Corporal | Ksh. 26,500 to Ksh. 42,660 |
| Constable/Fresh Graduate | Ksh. 21,645 to Ksh. 40,354 |
Kenya Police ranks and badges in Kenya from lowest to highest.
The Inspector General is the highest-ranking police officer in Kenya and is in charge of the entire National Police Service Commission.
1. Constable/fresh graduate
Constable officers are the lowest-ranked Kenya Police personnel who have completed phase one police training at the Recruits Training School. The new curriculum for training police constables is 15 months, including a three-month compulsory internship. So, what is the salary of constable officers in Kenya? The salary of constable officers is between Ksh. 21,645 and Ksh. 40,354.
A newly recruited constable police officer will earn a monthly salary of KSh. 21,645 in the latest salary review released by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). However, a long-serving constable who has been earning Ksh. 38,975 per month will now receive Ksh. 40,354.
2. Corporal
A Corporal holds the second lowest rank within the National Police Service, distinguishable by their badge featuring two red chevrons on a dark blue or maroon Melton cloth, slightly larger than the badge itself. The cap peak of a Corporal is plain, and their lanyard is in Navy blue, maroon, or khaki without any service name inscription on the badge. A corporal in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 27,879 to Ksh. 42,660. According to the Star, a new corporal officer will have Ksh. 27,879 in the new pay, up from Ksh. 26,500.
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3. Sergeant
The sergeant holds a position following the corporal in the National Police Service job ranks. The Sergeant’s badge is characterized by three red worsted chevrons displayed on a dark blue or maroon Melton cloth, with the badge being slightly larger by 1cm. The cap peak of a sergeant is unadorned, and their lanyard comes in plain Navy blue, maroon, or khaki. Notably, the badges do not bear any specific service name inscriptions. A sergeant in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 36,450 to Ksh. 53,570.
The new salary scale for a recently promoted sergeant officer shows they are set to take home Ksh. 38,829, up from the current Ksh. 36,450, whereas a long-serving sergeant officer in the same rank will earn Ksh. 55,049, up from Ksh. 53,570.
4. Senior Sergeant
The senior sergeant holds the fourth-lowest rank in the National Police Service in Kenya. Their badge features three red chevron bars with the Kenyan Coat of Arms National colors, displayed on a dark blue or maroon Melton cloth that is 1cm larger than the badge itself. The cap peak for senior sergeants is plain, and their lanyard comes in navy blue, maroon, or khaki without any service name inscriptions on the badges. A senior sergeant in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 41,649 to Ksh. 60,449.
Therefore, a recently promoted senior sergeant police officer will receive an additional Ksh. 1,379 in their pay slips, raising their monthly salary to Ksh. 41,649. In contrast, a long-serving senior sergeant officer in the same rank gets Ksh. 60,449, up from Ksh. 58,820.
5. Inspector of Police
The Inspector holds the fifth-lowest rank in the National Police Service, distinguished by a badge featuring two military pattern stars, plain peak caps, and a corded navy blue, maroon, or khaki lanyard. The service name is inscribed at the badge’s base, and during ceremonies, they wear a silver or gold collar badge with a lion and service name on a black or maroon background. An Inspector of Police in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 42,940 to Ksh. 64,379.
Therefore, according to a recent salary scale review, a senior inspector of police received a salary boost of Ksh. 1629 and will now earn Ksh. 64,379 up from the current Ksh. 62,750, with the lowest inspector earning Ksh. 44,369 up from Ksh. 42,940.
6. Chief Inspector
The Chief Inspector of Police holds the sixth-lowest rank within the National Police Service, identified by a shoulder badge featuring three military pattern stars and distinctive uniform details, such as a cap peak with corded navy blue, khaki, and maroon lanyard. Their service name is engraved at the bottom of the cloth badge, and during formal events, they wear a silver or gold collar badge featuring a lion with a scroll displaying their service name against a black or maroon background. A Chief Inspector in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 47,290 to Ksh. 71,789.
Therefore, according to a recent salary scale review, a long-serving Chief Inspector of Police will now earn Ksh. 71,789, up from Ksh. 68,720. While a junior officer in the same rank will earn Ksh. 49,769 up from Ksh. 47,290.
7. Assistant Superintendent
An Assistant Superintendent in the Kenyan National Police Service holds the seventh-lowest rank. Their shoulder badge displays a lion encircled by a laurel wreath, while their cap’s peak is unadorned. The lanyard’s color corresponds to their service. During official ceremonies, an Assistant Superintendent of Police wears a silver or gold collar badge featuring a lion and a service name scroll on a black or maroon background. An Assistant Superintendent in Kenya earns a monthly salary of Ksh. 70,530.
8. Superintendent
The Police Superintendent holds the eighth-lowest rank in the National Police Service, identifiable by their shoulder badge featuring a military-pattern star topped with a lion badge and a plain cap peak. The lanyard color corresponds to their service, and the service name is inscribed on the cloth badge’s base. A Superintendent in Kenya earns a monthly salary of Ksh. 73,020.
9. Senior Superintendent
The Senior Superintendent in the National Police Service holds the ninth-lowest rank but is sixth from the top. Their shoulder badge displays two military-pattern stars with a lion badge above them. The gorget patches are 4cm wide and 7.5cm long, made of black or maroon velvet, with a silver or gold cord and a small service button. The cap peak features 1.5 cm of silver embroidery with silver or gold cord edges, and the lanyard reflects their service colors. Additionally, the name of their service is inscribed at the bottom of the cloth badge. A senior superintendent in Kenya earns a monthly salary of Ksh. 85,890.
10. Commissioner of Police
The Commissioner of Police holds the fifth-highest rank within the Kenya National Police Service and is distinguishable by a distinctive shoulder badge featuring two crossed spears encircled by a laurel wreath and a single military pattern star at the top. The gorget patches consist of 4cm wide and 7.5cm long black or maroon velvet, pointed at the top and adorned with a vertical strip of silver or gold cord, along with a small service button positioned 2cm from the patch’s point.
The police cap peak is adorned with a single row of twisted oak leaf silver or gold lace, while the lanyard’s design varies based on the officer’s specific service. The respective service names are inscribed at the base of the cloth badge. The Commissioner of Police in Kenya earns a monthly salary of Ksh. 156,229 in the new pay, while the lowest earns Ksh. 106,929.
Also, it’s important to note that all OCPDs are supposed to be of the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP). This means the OCPDs will be moved to different sections where those of the rank of CP serve.
11. Assistant Inspector General
The Assistant Inspector General holds the fourth-highest rank within the National Police Service of Kenya. Their shoulder badge is characterized by two military-style stars positioned above a crossed scimitar sword and a swagger cane encircled by a laurel wreath. The gorget patches are 4cm wide and 9.5cm long, made of black or maroon velvet, and feature a single vertical row of three golden or silver ornaments of twisted 2cm silver or golden braid with a small gold or silver service button situated 2cm from the top point of the patch. The cape peak of this rank displays a single row of twisted oak leaf golden or silver lace. The lanyard’s design corresponds to their respective service colors, with the service name inscribed at the base of the cloth badge. An Assistant Inspector General in Kenya earns a monthly salary ranging from Ksh. 187,890 to Ksh. 218,269
12. Senior Assistant Inspector General
The Senior Assistant Inspector General holds the third-highest rank in Kenya’s National Police Service, signified by a distinctive shoulder badge featuring a crossed scimitar sword and swagger cane enclosed in a laurel wreath, topped with a lion badge. Their gorget patches are adorned with black or maroon velvet, measuring 4cm in width and 9.5cm in length, with a single vertical row of three golden or silver embellished oak leaves (sans acorn) and a small silver or golden service button situated 2cm from the patch’s point.
The cap peak is decorated with two rows of twisted oak leaf silver or golden lace, while the lanyard’s color corresponds to their respective service. As part of their ceremonial attire, they also wear silver or gold aiguillettes, with the name of their service engraved at the cloth badge’s base. A Senior Assistant Inspector General in Kenya now earns a basic monthly salary of KSh. 298,529, up from KSh. 289,090. Their salary increased to close to Sh10,000 in the latest review by the NPSC. However, the newly promoted Senior Assistant Inspector General in Kenya now earns a basic monthly salary of Ksh. 200,889, up from 189,640.
13. Deputy Inspector General
The Deputy Inspector General holds the second-highest rank within the Kenya National Police Service, distinguished by a distinctive shoulder badge adorned with a laurel wreath encircling a crossed scimitar sword and swagger cane featuring a military pattern star and lion badge atop it. The gorget patches are 4cm wide and 9.5cm long, with black or maroon velvet pointed at the top and adorned with a single vertical row of three silver oak leaves (without acorn) and a small silver or golden service button situated 2cm from the patch’s point.
The cape peak is embellished with two rows of twisted oak leaf silver or golden lace, and the lanyard is color-coded according to their respective service. For ceremonial attire, the Deputy Inspector General also sports silver or gold-colored aiguillettes, with the name of their service engraved at the badge’s bottom.
14. Inspector General
The Inspector General is the highest-ranking official in the Kenya Police Service. Their uniform includes a distinctive shoulder badge featuring a laurel wreath surrounding a crossed scimitar sword, a swagger cane, and two lion badges at the top. The gorget patches are 4cm wide and 9.5cm long, featuring red velvet pointed at the top with a single vertical row of three gold-embroidered oak leaves (without acorns) and a small golden service button 2cm from the patch’s top. The Inspector General’s cap peak is adorned with two rows of twisted oak leaf gold lace, and the lanyard is in National Police Service colors. The IG also wears gold-colored aiguillettes for ceremonial dress, and the name “National Police Service” is engraved on the cloth badge at the bottom. An Inspector General in Kenya earns a monthly salary of Ksh. 852,241
NPSC adjustments on the Kenya Police Salary Review
After a three-year wait, police officers are set to receive a pay increase as part of the National Police Service Commission’s (NPSC) third remuneration review cycle for 2021-2022 to 2024-2025. NPSC Chairman Eliud Kinuthia disclosed that the police would receive Ksh. 3.6 billion out of the Ksh. 21.7 billion allocated to all public servants, distributed in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for the 2023–2024 financial year, amounts to Ksh. 2.284 billion.
In this latest salary review, police officers will witness pay raises ranging from Ksh. 1,200 to Ksh. 11,000. For instance, a police constable currently earning Ksh. 20,390 will see their monthly income increase to Ksh. 21,645 starting at the end of August. Similarly, a police constable earning Ksh. 34,010 will experience a raise to Ksh. 35,389.
For police corporals earning Ksh. 37,700, the raise will be Ksh. 1,379, while police sergeants earning Ksh. 45,800 will see their salary increase to Ksh. 47,279 after the review. Police Inspectors and Chief Inspectors earning gross salaries between Ksh. 60,000 and Ksh. 70,000 and will receive pay increments ranging from Ksh. 1,679 to Ksh. 3,069.
Furthermore, Police Commissioners and Assistant Inspector Generals of Police can expect salary increases between Ksh. 5,269 and Ksh. 11,249 in this salary review.
Here is the Kenya Police salary scale list the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) wanted to implement after salary cuts:
| Number | Job Group | Grade | Current Basic Salary | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | PG1 | Ksh 17,190 | Ksh 18,760 |
| 2 | G | PG2 | Ksh 22,410 | Ksh 42,660 |
| 3 | H | PG3 | Ksh 30,750 | Ksh 45,540 |
| 4 | I | PG4 | Ksh 33,990 | Ksh 50,220 |
| 5 | J | PG5 | Ksh 36,300 | Ksh 53,820 |
| 6 | K | PG6 | Ksh 40,080 | Ksh 59,220 |
| 7 | L | PG7 | Ksh 45,540 | Ksh 70,530 |
| 8 | M | PG8 | Ksh 48,660 | Ksh 73,020 |
| 9 | N | PG9 | Ksh 59,220 | Ksh 85,890 |
| 10 | P | PG10 | Ksh 98,040 | Ksh 130,590 |
| 11 | S | PG11 | Ksh 143,790 | Ksh 187,890 |
| 12 | R | PG12 | Ksh 180,090 | Ksh 274,890 |
The NPSC has additionally suggested that the Inspector General of Police rotate among three divisions of the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police (APS), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in addition to the wage rise.
How much is the Kenyan CID paid?
The monthly salary of a CID in Kenya is between Ksh. 32,880 and Ksh. 854,241. However, these salaries are reviewed every two to four years by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) together with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of Kenya (SRC), the body responsible for determining salaries for public servants in the Kenyan government.
What is the AP salary in Kenya?
The monthly salary of an AP in Kenya is Ksh 17,190 to Ksh 180,090.
What is the monthly salary of traffic police in Kenya?
The monthly salary of traffic police in Kenya is Ksh 17,190 to Ksh 180,090
What is the basic monthly salary of a police cadet in Kenya?
The basic monthly salary of a police cadet in Kenya is Ksh 38,900, which is without any allowances included.
How much do police recruits get paid?
Police recruits are also called constables or fresh graduates; in the Kenya Police salary scale, police recruits, or constables, receive a basic monthly salary of Kshs 32,880. However, this income might be reduced to Ksh 18,760 if NPSC implements its proposed pay cuts.
What is the OCS salary in Kenya?
The monthly salary of an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in Kenya ranges from Ksh 70,000 to Ksh 120,000. Therefore, an OCS salary is determined by different factors, such as experience and qualifications.
What is the GSU salary in Kenya?
The monthly salary of a GSU in Kenya ranges from Ksh 33,990 to Ksh 45,540. The job group determines the GSU salary. For instance, GSU falls under groups I, J, K, and L.
To explain further, a GSU from a job group I will not receive the same salary as a GSU from a job group L.
Wrapping Up Kenya Police Salaries in Kenya
The salaries and allowances of Kenyan police have long been a source of controversy. Low morale and corruption among police personnel have been caused by their low pay and inadequate benefits, eventually lowering the standard of service they offer to the public.
Total number of police officers in Kenya
There are 101,421 police officers in Kenya, according to statistics from the biometric registration earlier in the year. The Kenya Police Service’s automated HR management system attempts to reduce fraud incidents brought on by manually maintained employee records.
What is the formation of the Kenya National Police Service?
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Internal Affairs Unit, the Kenya Police Service, and the Administration Police Service make up Kenya’s National Police Service. Also, the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Traffic Police Department, Kenya Police College, Kenya Police Air Wing, Kenya Railways Police, Kenya Police Dog Unit, Tourist Police Unit, Kenya Airport Police Unit, Maritime Police Unit, National Disaster and Management Unit, and Diplomatic Police Unit are some of the divisions that make up the Kenya Police Service.
Where does Kenyan police training take place?
The training of Kenyan police takes place at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, located in Nyeri County.