Kenya: Ruto - Police Constable Pay Increased From Sh21,645 to Sh29,360

What the report says

President William Ruto announced a pay rise for Kenya’s police constables, saying the entry-level basic salary has increased from Sh21,645 to Sh29,360. The report, carried by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, says the change is part of a completed three-phase review of police remuneration aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of security officers.

Ruto said salaries across other police ranks were also adjusted upward, though the article does not provide a full rank-by-rank breakdown. The announcement comes amid broader government efforts to modernize the security sector and address long-running concerns over police morale, pay and working conditions.

The president also pointed to housing as another major issue for officers. According to the report, the National Institutional Housing Programme includes 47,464 housing units across 165 projects nationwide, with more than 2,000 already completed and over 9,500 under construction. The government says the housing drive is intended to ease accommodation shortages and support officers’ effectiveness.

More generally, improved pay and housing have been recurring policy goals for police forces in many countries, because salary and living conditions can affect retention, discipline and operational readiness. In this case, the government framed the measures as part of a wider push to strengthen the National Police Service.