IG Kanja: New police uniforms set to boost officers’ pride, confidence and morale

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced that the Kenya Police Service will soon be donning new uniforms, aiming to bolster officers' pride, confidence, and morale. Speaking at the passing-out parade for police recruits at the National Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, Kanja emphasized that the new attire is part of a broader modernization program targeted at enhancing officers' welfare and working conditions.

The launch of these uniforms follows a series of reforms that include improvements in equipment, transport, housing, remuneration, and personnel numbers. Kanja highlighted the service's upgraded fleet of vehicles, increased salaries, and ongoing housing initiatives for police officers. He also pointed to the growth in the police-to-population ratio as a measure to strengthen policing capacity.

Kanja clarified that these reforms, including the new uniforms, are not merely cosmetic changes. Instead, they are designed to strengthen the police's institutional identity and confidence while interacting with the public. The reforms extend to the services provided to the public, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations recently implementing a modern biometric identification system.

This system has cut the processing time for police clearance certificates from 14 days to just one day, making police services faster and more efficient. The introduction of the new uniforms is expected to symbolize this transformation, reinforcing pride, confidence, and professionalism among the officers as they carry out their duties.