Updated 17 October 2026
Police pay in Kenya changed three times in three years. A review recommended by the Maraga-led Taskforce on Police and Prisons Reforms was carried out in phases, with the third and final phase taking effect in July 2026. This page sets out the minimum basic salary for each of the ten National Police Service pay grades after that phase. It shows the last entry figure published by the National Police Service Commission and has a take-home pay calculator already set to police figures.
Police Salary by Rank After the July 2026 Review
Officers are placed in ten pay grades, from Police Constable in Pay Grade 1 (PG1) to Assistant Inspector General in PG10. The table gives the minimum monthly basic salary for each grade before and after the final phase. An officer earns more than the minimum as they move up the salary points within their grade.
| Pay grade and rank | Previous minimum basic (KES) | New minimum basic (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| PG1 Police Constable | 27,470 | 29,360 |
| PG2 Corporal | 33,690 | 35,580 |
| PG3 Sergeant | 44,595 | 46,380 |
| PG4 Senior Sergeant | 48,815 | 50,600 |
| PG5 Inspector | 53,290 | 55,075 |
| PG6 Chief Inspector | 59,710 | 61,495 |
| PG7 Assistant Superintendent | 64,780 | 66,565 |
| PG8 Superintendent | 74,780 | 76,565 |
| PG9 Senior Superintendent | 87,140 | 88,925 |
| PG10 Assistant Inspector General | 96,930 | 98,715 |
New and previous minimums as reported by The Star in September 2026; the full official scale has not yet been published. The KES 21,645 to KES 25,645 entry figures below are official, from the National Police Service Commission, September 2024.
How Police Pay Has Moved Since 2024
In September 2024 the National Police Service Commission announced that the entry basic salary for a Police Constable had risen by KES 4,000, from KES 21,645 to KES 25,645. That was the first phase. The second phase lifted the constable entry point to KES 27,470, and the July 2026 phase took it to KES 29,360. Put together, a newly recruited constable’s basic pay has gone from KES 21,645 to KES 29,360, which is the 36 per cent rise the President referred to when he announced that the review was complete.
From the sergeant grade upwards the final phase added KES 1,785 to each minimum. Constables and corporals got KES 1,890. The review was designed to prioritise junior officers, who make up a large share of the service.
Allowances on Top of Basic Pay
Basic salary is only part of a police officer’s pay. Officers also get allowances approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, including house and commuter allowances that depend on grade and duty station. As an example, the revised structure gives a Police Constable in Nairobi a house allowance of KES 9,500 and a commuter allowance of KES 3,000 a month. On the minimum basic, that comes to KES 41,860 a month before deductions. Officers in other towns, or in other grades, get different amounts, so check your own payslip.
Police Take-Home Pay Calculator
Choose a rank to load its minimum basic salary, or type in your own gross pay from your payslip. The calculator deducts NSSF, SHIF at 2.75%, the Affordable Housing Levy at 1.5% and PAYE using the current tax bands and personal relief. It treats everything you enter as taxable pay.
Your real net pay will be lower if you have Sacco, loan, welfare or insurance deductions. The calculator applies NSSF at the standard rate; if your payslip shows a different pension deduction, use that figure instead. For loan planning, the check-off loan calculator shows how much room the two-thirds rule leaves you. Officers who save with the police Sacco can estimate repayments on the Kenya National Police DT Sacco loan calculator.
Joining the Police Service
Recruits join as constables in PG1, so the KES 29,360 minimum is the starting basic salary for a new officer. Recruitment is advertised by the National Police Service Commission. Government vacancies, including uniformed and civilian posts, also appear on jobinkenya.co.ke, along with a guide on how to apply for government jobs in Kenya.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary of a police constable in Kenya in 2026?
The minimum basic salary is KES 29,360 a month from July 2026, up from KES 27,470. House and commuter allowances are paid on top.
How much did police pay rise overall?
Entry basic pay for a constable went from KES 21,645 before September 2024 to KES 29,360 from July 2026, a rise of about 36 per cent across the three phases.
What does the Inspector General earn?
The Inspector General is a state officer whose pay is set separately. See the Inspector General of Police salary page, and other state and public pay on public salaries in Kenya.
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