Kenyan calls out police service for discriminating against 'short' people

A Kenyan man's emotional appeal has captured the nation's attention after he was disqualified from a police recruitment drive for not meeting the minimum height requirement.

Kenya requires police recruits to be a minimum of 5-feet-8-inches tall for men, and 5-feet-3-inches tall for women.

Within the law enforcement circles, being tall is perceived as beneficial in patrol work, while some studies, including one conducted in 1985, show that taller police officers tend to be "slower to aggression."

Now, it is this height qualification that has consistently locked Idris Kiprop out of Kenya's police service.

Kiprop, who hails from Kenya’s Baringo Central Constituency, relayed his disappointment of the past eight years, whereby his dream of joining the service has been repeatedly shattered by a measuring tape.

Speaking from the recruitment ground, Kiprop challenged the rule and asked Kenya’s President William Ruto to intervene.

He asked: “How many people are already working who are just like me? I have been seeking this job for the past eight years. Don't I deserve employment, simply because of my physical stature?”

He argued that dedication and intelligence should matter more than just physical attributes, insisting that height-challenged individuals are equally capable.

Kiprop revealed he joined the National Youth Service, completed training, and even studied ICT, yet stable employment remained out of reach.

His appeal ended with a direct pitch to the president, stating: “President Ruto, if you are listening, please find me a job. I can even join the police and serve as your personal guard."

His passionate plea sparked an online debate, dividing those who sympathise with his plight and those who support maintaining strict recruitment standards.

The recruitment concerns unfold against the backdrop of a major national event: the hiring of 10,000 new police constables. The one-day recruitment took place in 427 centres across the country.

 The exercise happened after the High Court of Kenya had lifted a temporary suspension on the process.

The urgent application to restart the process was filed by Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, who warned that the three-year recruitment freeze had left the service critically understaffed.

Inspector-General Kanja cautioned that the hiring freeze risks hindering the training and deployment of officers needed to tackle evolving threats, as well as prepare to provide security during Kenya's 2027 general election.

Consequently, the court lifted the injunction and cleared the police service to hold a national recruitment drive on Monday, November 17th.

Amidst this large-scale exercise, Kenya’s National Police Service Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga framed the recruitment as "more than just an employment opportunity."