President William Ruto has declared the completion of the three-stage police salary review, with new pay rates now in place across the National Police Service as the government moves to improve officers’ welfare.
Ruto said the review had raised the entry-level basic salary of police constables by 36 per cent, with corresponding changes made across the ranks.
He spoke on Friday during the passing-out parade of about 3,000 police recruits at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, Nairobi.
“We have completed the three-phase salary review, raising the entry-level basic salary of a police constable by 36 per cent, with corresponding adjustments across the ranks,” Ruto said.
The President also announced plans to increase police housing, including at the Embakasi training college, while improving medical care for officers and their families through the Usalama Cover.
"We are expanding police housing, including here at Embakasi, strengthening healthcare through the Usalama Cover, and improving mobility, protective equipment, specialised operational assets and air support," he stated.
The Social Health Authority (SHA) launched the Usalama Cover in April 2026 to provide comprehensive medical insurance to more than 138,000 police and prison officers and their families.
The measures form part of wider government efforts to improve the working conditions and welfare of security officers.
Under the revised salary structure, police officers are grouped into 10 pay grades, beginning with Police Constables in Pay Grade One and progressing through Corporals, Sergeants, Senior Sergeants, Inspectors, Chief Inspectors, Assistant Superintendents of Police, Superintendents, Senior Superintendents and Assistant Inspectors General of Police.
The minimum basic salary for a Police Constable has risen from Sh27,470 to Sh29,360.
Corporals in PG2 received a Sh1,890 increase, moving their minimum basic salary from Sh33,690 to Sh35,580, while Sergeants in PG3 moved from Sh44,595 to Sh46,380.
Senior Sergeants in PG4 will earn a minimum basic salary of Sh50,600, up from Sh48,815, while Inspectors in PG5 moved from Sh53,290 to Sh55,075.
For Chief Inspectors, the minimum basic salary increased from Sh59,710 to Sh61,495, while Assistant Superintendents of Police moved from Sh64,780 to Sh66,565.
Superintendents now have a minimum basic salary of Sh76,565, up from Sh74,780, while Senior Superintendents moved from Sh87,140 to Sh88,925.
At the top of the structure, Assistant Inspectors General of Police saw their minimum basic salary rise from Sh96,930 to Sh98,715.
Officers will also continue receiving facilitative allowances approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, including house and commuter allowances based on their grade and duty station.
For instance, a Police Constable stationed in Nairobi receives a monthly house allowance of Sh9,500 and a commuter allowance of Sh3,000 under the revised structure.
The salary review was phased to give priority to junior officers, who make up a large share of the National Police Service workforce.
It followed recommendations by the David Maraga-led Taskforce on Police and Prisons Reforms, which Ruto established in December 2022 to examine issues affecting officers, including pay, housing, promotions, medical care and general working conditions.
The task force identified low pay, inadequate housing, delayed promotions and limited welfare support as some of the challenges facing officers and recommended a salary review to be implemented in phases over three years.