A wave of dissatisfaction has engulfed the National Police Service (NPS) following recent promotions of senior officers, with allegations that the process is marred 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 bias and politicization in Kenya’s security sector, issues previously highlighted in the exit report of the former commissioners of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), led by Eliud Kinuthia.

Insiders claim new names are being added to the promotion list during the transition period, fueling suspicions of exploitation of the power vacuum to favour preferred candidates.