Nairobi: President William Ruto will on Friday unveil a new police uniform as he presides over the passing out parade of police recruits at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja announced that the new uniform would be rolled out across the Kenya Police Service in the coming weeks after its commissioning by the President.
According to Kenya News Agency, the introduction of the new uniform is part of ongoing efforts to transform the National Police Service (NPS), aimed at boosting the morale of officers, particularly the 10,000 recruits expected to join the service. “On Friday, God willing, the Head of State will also be commissioning the new uniform for the Kenya Police Service and in the next few coming weeks, we should be seeing the new uniform that was approved some time back,” Kanja stated.
The new uniform initiative concludes a process that began in 2023 under the Kenya Kwanza administration’s police reform program. As part of this process, the NPS conducted nationwide public consultations to gather opinions from citizens and police officers on proposed changes to police attire and gear. Four shirt designs were presented to the public for selection, featuring various options such as sky-blue shirts paired with navy-blue trousers, adorned with the Kenya Police logo and the Kenyan flag.
Despite the changes for the Kenya Police Service, Kanja clarified that the uniforms of the Administration Police Service and the General Service Unit would remain unchanged. The announcement was made during a full-dress rehearsal at the Kiganjo Police Training College, where Kanja emphasized the readiness of the recruits following their nine-month training program.
The graduation marks the first major police recruitment in three years, a move aimed at addressing personnel shortages within the service, especially as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election. Kanja highlighted that the addition of 10,000 officers would significantly improve the service’s personnel numbers, allowing ample time to prepare them for election security duties.
Kanja further explained that the recruits had been trained in their roles and responsibilities, emphasizing security preparedness for the upcoming General Election. The new officers are expected to enhance the capacity of the National Police Service to maintain law and order across Kenya.
