President Ruto Unveils New Police Uniforms Amid Tender Questions

President William Ruto unveiled the new general duty police uniforms during a passing-out parade at the National Police College Main Campus in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, alongside Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja. While the administration frames the attire as a long-awaited reform, opposition leaders immediately questioned a reported three billion shilling procurement tender behind the rollout.

President William Ruto and Inspector-General Douglas Kanja at the National Police College

The transition introduces a fresh look for roughly 60,000 general duty officers across the country. Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja assessed preparations for the passing out parade at the institution, where President William Ruto officially inspected the attire during the graduation of more than 6,000 police recruits.

Inside the Kiganjo Pass-Out Parade and Uniform Design

The newly unveiled garments feature a permanently embroidered name tag, service number, and the Kenya Police logo on the left sleeve. According to security officials, the design discards the deep blue outfits introduced under the previous administration, which officers had widely rejected during a 2023 police public participation exercise.

Inspector-General Kanja on the Reverted Blue Attire

Inspector-General Kanja confirmed that graduating constables were the first to wear the attire, noting that the rollout will expand across the wider force. We have been using the blue, the deep blue one, so we have just reverted back to the one that was agreed upon, I must note that on Monday, I will also be in that one, Kanja said. Other specialized branches, such as the Administration Wing and the General Service Unit, will maintain their current uniforms. The new uniform was first unveiled in February 2023 when then Inspector General of police Japhet Koome donned it during a meeting, and a uniform committee chaired by the Vice Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya Defence Forces oversees such approvals.

President Ruto Unveils New Police Uniforms Amid Tender Questions — Photo: kahawatungu.com

Opposition Questions Transparency Around the Procured Tender

The rollout quickly drew political pushback over its financial footprint. Speaking during a grassroots public engagement tour in Emali Township, Makueni County, on Friday, August 28, hosted by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa demanded answers regarding the procurement contract.

Today, we are demanding to know the company that made the uniform and how, and to whom, the tender was awarded, Wamalwa stated.

Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka on the Ksh3 Billion Contract

Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka questioned whether wardrobe changes address the core hardships facing law enforcement. “Just as Kalonzo has said, there is a contract of almost Ksh3 billion to make new uniforms for the police service. That money will not help our police officers. If you ask any officer today, is their problem the uniform or housing? Is it the uniform, or is it the housing levy and Social Health Authority (SHA) deductions? Currently, police officers, just like other Kenyans, have strained payslips. Changing their uniform does not change their lives,” Wamalwa added. Some sources indicate a set costs Sh25,000, meaning fitting each officer with two sets will cost the taxpayer Sh3 billion, and the tender has remained a closely guarded secret that even leaves National Police Service bosses tight-lipped, with winning bidders known to only a handful of government bureaucrats.

President Ruto inspects the newly unveiled Police uniforms complete with their new look maternity we

Government Defense and the Broader Maraga Taskforce Context

Defending the decision at the ceremony, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen maintained that the attire directly fulfills recommendations made by the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, adding that the uniform was chosen by the officers themselves through rigorous public participation. Murkomen cautioned observers against reducing sweeping institutional overhauls to mere clothing choices, stating that national police reforms cannot even be covered in one hour.

Yet the debate comes as former Chief Justice David Maraga, who chaired the police reforms taskforce, said its recommendations are yet to be implemented.

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