President William Ruto is set to unveil a new uniform for the Kenya Police Service on Friday, marking the return of an earlier design after officers rejected the current navy-blue attire during a 2023 public participation exercise.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said officers will begin wearing the new uniform from Monday, with the rollout expected to continue across the country in the coming weeks. He said the change is intended to boost officers’ morale, particularly among new recruits, and to improve service delivery.
“This is going to be a force multiplier in terms of morale boosting for our officers, especially for our recruits,” Kanja said.
The President will officially commission the uniform during the Kenya Police Service pass-out parade at the Kiganjo Police Training College on Friday.
Kanja said the new attire is based on a design that had already been agreed upon following earlier consultations with police officers and members of the public.
“We have been using the blue, the deep blue one, so we have just reverted to the one that was agreed upon. I must note that on Monday, I will also be in that one,” he said.
Roots in the Maraga Task Force Recommendations
The move aligns with recommendations made by a task force on police reforms led by retired Chief Justice David Maraga, which had called on the National Police Service to revert to its old uniform for three years while a new design is developed.
“This recommendation flows from the numerous complaints voiced on the quality and supply of uniforms to the members of the three services,” the task force said in its report.
The task force said its recommendation was informed by the views of the public, serving police officers, and the service’s leadership. It also flagged a separate concern that needs addressing going forward.
“The Committee should also address the misuse of uniforms by the public,” the report said.
Background on the Uniform Change
The previous government had phased out the iconic blue police uniform that had been in use for decades, replacing it with a redesigned version intended to improve officers’ visibility and promote uniformity across ranks following the merger of the Administration Police and the Kenya Police Service.
That redesign, however, was not well received by officers when it was put through public participation in 2023, setting the stage for Friday’s reversal.
Final Preparations for the Pass-Out Parade
Preparations for Friday’s pass-out parade are in their final stages, with recruits completing their last rehearsals ahead of the August 28 ceremony.
The recruits held a parade rehearsal on August 21 at the National Police Service Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, after completing nine months of intensive training.
Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat, who witnessed the rehearsal, said the exercise reflected the readiness of the incoming officers.
“This parade rehearsal goes beyond display. It demonstrates a renewed and vibrant workforce for the service that offers a reprieve from policing workload and hope for a secure nation,” Lagat said.
The recruits showed discipline and coordination during the rehearsal as they prepare to transition from training into active policing duties.
They are expected to be deployed to police stations, formations, and units across the country following the pass-out ceremony, a move expected to strengthen the police workforce and ease pressure on officers currently handling policing duties nationwide.