Police Start Changing Uniforms [PHOTOS]
The uniform will feature the Kenyan flag on the right side as well as the NPS logo on the left side.
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The National Police Service (NPS) on Tuesday, August 29 began the process of changing the uniforms for its officers from the existing royal blue uniforms introduced during the tenure of former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiangi.
Images seen by Viral Tea and shared by the service revealed that the police will revert to wearing sky-blue shirts with the option of choosing between short and long sleeves.
The uniform will feature the Kenyan flag on the right side as well as the NPS logo on the left side.
In a statement, NPS invited members of the public to a public participation exercise to give their opinions about the uniforms and vote for their favourite designs.
A police officer inspecting the new proposed uniforms on August 29, 2023. /NPS
Should the proposed designs sail through, the officers will also revert to wearing navy blue trousers and skirts for policewomen.
"The National Police Service kindly invites members of the public to participate in the selection process for the proposed Kenya Police Service uniform," stated NPS in part.
The NPS outlined its plan to conduct a series of stakeholder forums, thus providing the public with a means by which they can give their views regarding the police uniforms.
The inaugural forum is scheduled for today, August 29, 2023, at the Kenya Police Pavilion, South C, Nairobi.
The second forum will take place on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at the Central Region at Ruring'u Police Training College while the third and final forum will take place on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at National Police College-Main Campus Kiganjo.
A police officer showcasing the new proposed uniforms on August 29, 2023. /NPS
The royal blue uniform came under sharp criticism from Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who promised during the campaigns that they would change the outfit.
He felt at the time that the changes to the uniform's design were made without the input from the officers themselves.
"You have suffered so much in the hands of Matiang'i and Kibicho. Even the new blue uniform that you don't want will be revoked and we return to the old one.
"The blue one will be left for the PCEA church. It is the uniform of the women's guild," he stated during a rally on June 11, 2022.
President William Ruto on his part ordered Inspector General of the Police, Japhet Koome to ensure that police officers no longer have to pay to get uniforms provided by the government.
He expressed his displeasure at witnessing a situation whereby police officers were not only paying for the uniforms with their own money but also getting substandard quality.
“Mr. IG as we expect these great officers to perform their part of the bargain, I expect that we honour our part even as we wait for the recommendations of the police task force, that these police officers who leave here today each officer will have the requisite uniform.
“It is my expectation that these officers will be given a uniform by the government of Kenya. I expect that the uniform that these men and women will be given will be of the quality that meets the standard for our police men and women who perform a distinguished security function in the republic of Kenya,” he stated during the pass out of police constables at Kiganjo, Nyeri County on Tuesday, January 10.
The current blue uniforms were introduced by former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i in September 2018 and unveiled by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
At the time, the changes were unveiled as part of the reforms in the service to create a relationship between the police and members of the public.
