The head of Kenya's Police, Douglas Kanja, has opposed a legislative proposal to limit the retirement age of the Inspector General to 60, arguing that it undermines professionalism and disrupts succession planning in the service.
Kanja emphasized that leadership in the police should rely on merit, competence, and experience rather than age, noting that the force requires adaptability and institutional memory built over years.
“In light of the foregoing, I recommend that the proposed amendment introducing a 60-year age limit for appointment to the offices of Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General be reconsidered,” Kanja said during submissions to the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Tuesday.
“This proposal, if enacted, risks locking out highly qualified and experienced officers who possess the institutional knowledge and leadership capacity necessary to guide the Service through security challenges.”
Kanja made his statement while commenting on the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill 2025, sponsored by Teso North MP Oku Kaunya. The Bill seeks, among other changes, to set an age cap of 60 years for the Inspector General and introduce a five-year term limit for Deputy Inspector Generals, who currently do not have term restrictions. Currently, there is no age cap for the IG or DIG.
“Therefore I urge this honourable committee to retain the current provision of the National Police Service Act without imposing the proposed age restriction,” Kanja added.
Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa)Chairperson, Issack Hassan before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on November 11, 2025.PHOTO/HANDOUTHowever, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has supported the amendments, arguing that an age limit would enhance accountability and align the police leadership structure with broader public service regulations.
Ipoa pointed out that the Public Service Act, together with Regulation 70 of the Public Service Commission Regulations, sets the compulsory retirement age in Kenya at 60, and 65 for persons with disabilities.
“In Tanzania, the age of retirement for an officer in the rank of the Assistant Superintendent of Police up to the Inspector General is 60 years while in Uganda, all police officers are required to retire at the age of 55 or after 20 years of continued service. There is however no distinct age of retirement for the Deputy Inspector General,” Ipoa said.
Earlier, stakeholders from security, legal, and oversight sectors shared their opinions on the proposed amendments during a public engagement session convened by the parliamentary committee chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo. Participants included the National Police Service, Ipoa, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and the National Association of Retired Police Officers–Kenya (NARPOK).
Ipoa representatives, led by Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan, supported the amendment’s goals but raised concerns over replacing Section 13 of the Act with a new Section 11A, citing issues with coherence in the legislation. Mr. Hassan also recommended that appointments and removals of the IG and DIG follow a detailed procedure in line with the Maraga Taskforce recommendations and respect the two-thirds gender rule under Article 27 of the Constitution.
The National Police Service, represented by Director of Legal Affairs Amos Obuga, opposed the amendments, stressing the strategic importance of experience and institutional knowledge. “While age correlates with experience, it should not be used as a disqualifying factor for leadership. Competence, integrity, professionalism, and strategic thinking should remain the principal criteria for appointment to the positions of IG and DIG,” Obuga said.
NARPOK suggested that the IG be appointed before reaching 60 but allowed to serve a full four-year term, and that candidates should have served within the Service to ensure institutional understanding.
LSK endorsed the Bill, describing it as a positive step toward building a professional and accountable police service, while highlighting the need for leaders with the right qualifications, integrity, and experience.
