The National Police Service (NPS) has denied corruption allegations surrounding the procurement of the newly introduced General Duty police uniforms, saying the tender was awarded through a lawful process.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, NPS dismissed reports linking Nalitex Limited to the supply and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service uniforms.
The Service clarified that Nalitex Limited did not participate in the procurement process, receive the tender or work as a subcontractor. It also said the company had not received any purchase order or payment from NPS.
New police uniform. Photo: Courtesy.
NPS identified Bedi Investments Limited as the company awarded the contract to manufacture the new uniforms.
The police further explained that the decision to introduce new General Duty uniforms was part of ongoing police reforms and was made before the procurement process began.
The change followed recommendations by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. The task force consulted police officers, who expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniforms and supported changes.
The task force subsequently recommended a return to the previous uniform colours, meaning the decision to introduce the new design was not made suddenly.
Following the recommendations, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop the required standards for the new uniforms.
NPS said four Kenyan textile manufacturers with experience supplying police uniform materials were then invited to submit samples.
The process was part of efforts to promote local manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative, after which Bedi Investments Limited was awarded the tender.
The clarification comes days after President William Ruto launched the new police uniforms, sparking debate over the procurement process and allegations surrounding the company awarded the contract.
Reports had linked the tender, reportedly valued at more than KSh2.8 billion, to the First Family. NPS has since dismissed the claims as false and malicious, maintaining that the company mentioned in the reports did not feature in the official procurement process.
The new General Duty uniform consists of a sky-blue shirt, navy-blue trousers, a blue beret or hat and black boots. The uniform also features the Kenya Police Service logo on the left sleeve and the Kenyan flag on the right sleeve.
For the first time, the new uniforms also include special designs for pregnant and breastfeeding female officers to provide greater comfort while on duty.
President Ruto officially launched the uniforms on Friday, August 28, with Kenya Police Service officers expected to begin wearing them from Monday, August 31.
The uniforms will be introduced gradually to General Duty officers across the country over the coming weeks as part of the ongoing police reform programme.
