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Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has criticized the government’s decision to implement another change in police uniforms, arguing that public resources should be utilized more efficiently by leveraging existing state capacity. Matiang’i, who is also the deputy leader of the Jubilee Party, highlighted that previous uniform changes during his tenure demonstrated that the government did not require outsourcing or purchasing everything when public institutions already possessed the necessary skills and facilities.
He emphasized that his administration adopted a distinct approach by engaging with the National Youth Service (NYS), other public institutions, and the private sector to produce the uniforms while controlling costs and generating opportunities for Kenyans. During President William Ruto’s inspection of newly trained officers at the National Police College in Kiganjo on August 28, 2026, the new General Duty police uniform, featuring a sky-blue shirt, dark-blue trousers, and berets, was unveiled.
This new attire is intended for approximately 60,000 General Duty officers and was developed through the collaboration of the NYS, other government institutions, and private-sector partners. Matiang’i stressed that this experience showcased a model that effectively managed costs, fostered local capacity, and created employment opportunities for Kenyans.
He further argued that government expenditure should be evaluated based on its impact rather than the amount of money allocated to projects. According to Matiang’i, a uniform may alter a police officer’s appearance, but effective governance must prioritize strengthening institutions, enhancing capacity, and ensuring that every ksh spent delivers value to the Kenyan people.
He emphasized that prudent management of public resources necessitates strengthening local institutions and maximizing existing infrastructure and expertise instead of repeatedly outsourcing services that could be delivered locally. The National Police Service (NPS) attributes the uniform change to the broader police reform process associated with the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms.
The NPS states that officers consulted during this process expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and favored a return to a previous color scheme. The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to establish specifications for the new uniforms. The NPS revealed that Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the contract for manufacturing and stitching the new General Duty uniforms, with four Kenyan textile manufacturers invited to submit samples.
Only Bedi Investments Limited and Rivatex East Africa Limited submitted samples within the stipulated timeframe; the Bedi sample was ultimately selected and approved. The procurement process adhered to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act. The NPS firmly denied allegations that Nalitex Limited won or participated in the tender, stating that Bedi Investments, not Nalitex, was the successful contractor.
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.
