The government has announced a salary increase for police, Kenya Prisons, and National Youth Service (NYS) officers.
On March 4, 2026, officials confirmed that the final phase of salary raises will take effect this July for all police, prison officers, and NYS personnel.
This decision follows a meeting of the National Steering Committee on reforms in the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and NYS, chaired by Dr. Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration. The committee highlighted that these increases represent the highest cumulative pay raises for officers in three consecutive years since independence.
Lower-ranking police officers will significantly benefit from this increase, as President William Ruto directed. A constable’s maximum salary will rise to Ksh57,700 from Ksh38,975—an impressive 48 percent hike. The same cap applies to their counterparts in the Kenya Prisons Service.
New constables graduating from police training colleges will now start at Ksh29,296, up from Ksh20,390, marking a 44 percent increase. NYS officers in the lowest cadre will see their minimum salaries rise to Ksh26,222, with a maximum of Ksh37,912, compared to previous salaries between Ksh19,800 and Ksh32,315.
Once fully implemented, the highest-ranking police officer will earn a maximum monthly salary of Ksh345,850, up from Ksh289,090—a 20 percent increase. The highest-paid officers in the KPS will now earn between Ksh301,548 and Ksh584,903, compared to a previous range of Ksh292,765 to Ksh576,120.
Officers from all three services began receiving the increased pay following the government’s announcement that salary raises would be phased in starting July 1, 2024.
Overall, these institutions have now implemented over 50 percent of the planned reforms, showcasing sustained progress in the security sector, with the National Police Service leading at 57.2 percent implementation, while the Kenya Prisons Service and NYS follow closely behind.
