The government has announced a new salary policy for officers in the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) and the National Youth Service (NYS), marking what officials describe as the highest cumulative pay increase for security personnel over three consecutive years since independence.
In a statement March 4, 2026, the government said reforms across the three institutions are being implemented under a structured four-pillar transformation framework aimed at strengthening service delivery, professionalism and accountability. The reform agenda focuses on institutional capacity development, operational preparedness and logistical capacity, oversight and accountability, and human resource management and development.
The announcement followed a meeting of the National Steering Committee on the implementation of reforms in the NPS, KPS and NYS, chaired by Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo. The committee reviewed progress and confirmed that the final phase of salary increases for all officers in the three services will take effect in July.
Police officers in the lower ranks are the main beneficiaries of the revised pay structure. Under the new adjustments, a constable in the National Police Service will earn a maximum of Ksh57,700, up from Ksh38,975, representing a 48 percent increase. A similar salary cap has been introduced for their counterparts in the Kenya Prisons Service.
Constables graduating from police training colleges will now receive a starting salary of Ksh 29,296, up from Ksh 20,390 earned before July 2024, marking a 44 percent rise.
For NYS officers in the lowest cadre, the new policy sets a minimum salary of Ksh 26,222 and a maximum of Ksh 37,912. Previously, they earned between Ksh 19,800 and Ksh 32,315.
At the top of the scale, the highest-serving police officer will earn a maximum monthly basic pay of Ksh 345,850, up from Ksh 289,090, a 20 percent increase. Similarly, senior officers in the Kenya Prisons Service will now earn between Ksh 301,548 and Ksh 584,903, compared to a previous range of Ksh 292,765 to Ksh 576,120. Comparable adjustments have been made for senior officers in the NYS.
The government noted that officers across the three services began receiving phased salary increments effective July 1, 2024, following the announcement of a comprehensive pay review.
Overall, the three institutions have implemented more than 50 percent of the planned reform actions. The National Police Service leads with 57.2 percent overall implementation, while the Kenya Prisons Service and the National Youth Service are progressing at comparable levels.
The government says the reforms are intended to improve officers’ welfare and working conditions while enhancing professionalism, operational efficiency and accountability across the security sector.
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