Ruto moves fast on police uniform as Maraga reforms gather dust
While a new uniform can be designed, procured and rolled out, the taskforce recommendations of the deeper problems afflicting security workforce remain untouched.
Nairobi, Kenya - President William Ruto is set to unveil a new police uniform at a passing-out parade for recruits at the National Police Training College in Kiganjo on Friday, sparking a debate over why the government has acted quickly on this reform while dragging its feet on more significant changes. General Duty officers will begin wearing the new uniform starting from August 31, 2025.
Kenyan Inspector-General of Police, Douglas Kanja, defends the change as an effort to boost officers' morale and align their clothing with recommendations from a 2023 public participation exercise. Former Chief Justice David Maraga had seven days to release a police reforms report, but the deadline expired without the document being made public, leading to public tension.
The taskforce's recommendations aimed to improve accountability, strengthen institutions, and address systemic police brutality and impunity, but the government's reluctance to implement these changes raises questions about the priority of the new uniform reform over deeper police service issues.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
