By Swift Reporter
Kenya’s National Police Service (NPS) has defended the termination of 18 pregnant female recruits at the National Police College, Main Campus, Kiganjo, in the face of widespread public criticism and online debate.
In a statement issued on Friday, May 9, the police dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that some of the recruits became pregnant while undergoing training at the institution.
“We wish to state categorically, and for the record, that no female recruit conceived while at the National Police College,” the statement issued by its spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga, read in part.
The police said the college maintains strict discipline and supervision standards, insisting that female and male recruits only interact during official training sessions under the observation of instructors.
“There is no unsupervised mingling or private interaction between recruits. Any suggestion of a lapse in this regard is not only false but also an insult to the integrity of our training protocols,” the NPS added.
According to the service, all affected female recruits were discontinued within the first month of joining the college after mandatory medical screening confirmed they were pregnant.
The NPS explained that every female recruit undergoes a compulsory pregnancy test upon arrival at Kiganjo, with any positive result subjected to a second confirmatory test at a government medical facility in Nyeri. Only recruits who test positive in both examinations are discontinued in line with the National Police Service Standing Orders and training regulations.
Police said the residential training programme involves physically demanding activities, including drills, obstacle courses, and firearms training, which may pose risks to pregnant recruits and unborn children.
The statement comes days after the Commandant of the National Police College, Main Campus Kiganjo, disclosed that 54 recruits had been discontinued from the ongoing Basic Recruit Training Course involving more than 5,000 trainees.
Among those discontinued were 18 recruits found to be pregnant, 18 accused of presenting forged academic certificates, 10 with previous convictions, two who allegedly used forged national identification cards, and two with terminal health conditions.
The matter has since sparked political debate, with several leaders questioning the decision to discontinue the pregnant recruits instead of deferring their training.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo criticised the move and suggested the matter could be taken to Parliament and the court.
At the same time, her Githunguri counterpart, Gathoni Wamuchomba, also condemned the decision, arguing that pregnancy should not automatically lead to dismissal from police training.
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