Unanswered questions remain as huge secrecy persists over the planning and rollout of the new police uniforms
Light blue shirt with silver buttons, navy blue trousers, blue aiguillette, Kenyan flag replacing NPS colours, KPS logo, permanent name tag and service number, national flag on right sleeve.
Secrecy over tender: The supply contract for the new Kenya Police uniform remains a closely guarded secret, even among NPS bosses.
Cost: Each officer’s two-set uniform costs Sh25,000 — an estimated Sh3 billion total for 60,000 general duty officers. Ceremonial attire costs about Sh30,000/unit. Boots (Sh3,000–5,000) are extra.
Unclear suppliers: IG Douglas Kanja and NPS spokesman Muchiri Nyaga as well as NPS Administration Secretary Bernice Lemedeket and even government spokesperson Charles Owino were tight-lipped on actual details of firms which won the tender
Contract allegedly favors insiders: Sources say the deal was split among several firms — one lot reportedly went to a company linked to an influential lawmaker; another to a businessman with manufacturing interests. Nairobi-based Nalitex Ltd also won a lot; company records show it’s owned by Selpha Chesimi Temoi but the telephone number on the CR12 points to a very powerful family
Uniforms locally made: Produced by textile firms in Thika, Kitui, Nakuru, and Eldoret under the “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” initiative.
Parliament kept in the dark: The National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security (chaired by Gabriel Tongoyo) confirmed it was excluded from the process and learned about the uniform through media coverage, despite overseeing NPS budgets.
Design features: Light blue shirt with silver buttons, navy blue trousers, blue aiguillette, Kenyan flag replacing NPS colours, KPS logo, permanent name tag and service number, national flag on right sleeve.
Public criticism: Security experts called it a “cosmetic” change rather than real reform. Officers reportedly complained about poor fabric quality — not durable, fades fast, uncomfortable during long shifts.
Background: Uniform stems from a 2018 task force (chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga) and a 2023 public participation exercise; it replaces the widely disliked “Persian blue” uniform introduced in 2018, which had itself drawn mockery.
Rollout: Uniform unveiled by President Ruto in Kiganjo, Nyeri County; general duty officers to receive it gradually. AP and GSU will retain camouflage/signature uniforms for joint-operation clarity.
