Tension ran high in Tiaty sub-county on Monday, November 17, after angry residents stormed a police recruitment exercise, accusing officials of irregularities and allowing non-locals to participate.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded in Koloa, where dozens of residents—some carrying tree branches—interrupted the recruitment, claiming that candidates from outside the area had infiltrated the exercise.
Video footage seen by Kenyambele.buzz shows locals confronting police officers and shouting down the process. Some residents attempted to block certain recruits from joining the physical drills, insisting that several participants were not from the community.
Chants of “It can’t continue!” and “He’s not from here!” dominated the heated standoff as officers struggled to restore order.
Accusations of Bribery and Interference
A well-known lawyer from the region alleged that some non-local candidates had arrived with money to bribe officials overseeing the recruitment.
“The police recruitment in Tangulbei, Chemolingot, and Kolowa has once again been compromised by individuals coming in with cash to influence the process,” the lawyer claimed, calling on the National Police Service (NPS) to intervene and ensure fairness.
The disturbance comes despite repeated assurances from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen that the nationwide recruitment would be free, fair, and transparent.
Recruitment Already Under Scrutiny
The exercise—which resumed after court approval—is being conducted in a single day across all 427 centres, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
However, widespread complaints have emerged nationally, even before the Tiaty incident. A recent report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) uncovered extensive irregularities in police recruitment, citing bribery, political influence, inconsistent selection criteria, and outdated manual procedures.
The EACC noted that the long-standing flaws risk preventing the National Police Service from attracting competent officers and maintaining integrity in one of the country’s most critical security processes.