Kenya’s police officers will return to the familiar blue uniform from Monday, ending the use of the deep navy-blue attire that has faced criticism from officers and members of the public.
President William Ruto is expected to officially unveil and commission the restored uniform on Friday during the Kenya Police Service pass-out parade at the Kiganjo Police Training College in Nyeri County.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the decision followed consultations with both police officers and the public, including a public participation exercise held in 2023 where the current navy-blue uniform was rejected.
“We have been using the blue, the deep blue one, so we have just reverted to the one that was agreed upon. I must note that on Monday, I will also be in that one,” he said.
Kanja said the return to the previous design is also aimed at improving the morale of police officers, especially recruits joining the service, while helping them carry out their duties more effectively.
“This is going to be a force multiplier in terms of morale boosting for our officers, especially for our recruits,” Kanja said.
The decision is also in line with recommendations made by a police reforms task force chaired by retired Chief Justice David Maraga.
The task force proposed that the National Police Service go back to its former uniform for three years as work continues on creating a new design for the service.
“This recommendation flows from the numerous complaints voiced on the quality and supply of uniforms to the members of the three services,” the task force said.
The team also recommended action to stop members of the public from wearing or misusing police uniforms.
“The Committee should also address the misuse of uniforms by the public,” the report said.
The earlier blue police uniform had been associated with the service for decades before it was phased out by the previous government.
A new design was later introduced after the merger of the Administrative Police and the Kenya Police Service. The redesigned attire was meant to make officers easier to identify while creating a common appearance across the different ranks and services.
The return of the former uniform comes as the police service prepares to add a new group of officers to its workforce.
Recruits at Kiganjo have completed nine months of intensive training and held their final parade rehearsal on August 21 ahead of Friday’s pass-out ceremony.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who attended the rehearsal, said the performance showed that the recruits were ready to take up their duties.
“This parade rehearsal goes beyond display. It demonstrates a renewed and vibrant workforce for the service that offers a reprieve from policing workload and hope for a secure nation,” he said.
The newly trained officers are expected to be posted to police stations, formations and units across the country following the pass-out ceremony.
Their deployment is expected to increase the number of officers available for duty and reduce the workload faced by those currently serving in different parts of the country.